LONGVIEW, Texas — Five different East Texas Baptist University (9-6-3, 4-3-3) players scored as the Tigers advanced on in the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament dominating McMurry University (1-15-1, 0-9-1) 5-1 on Tuesday night. ETBU scored four times in the first half to shape the result before adding one more goal after halftime. The home side finished with a 19-7 advantage in shots and put 11 attempts on goal while limiting McMurry to two shots on frame at Pirate Stadium in Longview as the game was moved due to field conditions. It marks the second postseason victory in program history and the first since 2018 as both come under head coach
Chris Crawford.
"We are really starting to see the ball and move the ball and put it in dangerous spots and playing to our strength, which is speed," says Crawford. "We are starting to execute well and this team is getting better each game."
Dylan Garcia scored the second goal of the game, added an assist and put all three of his shots on goal.
Braxton Ladwig scored the first goal and added an assist for a three-point performance.
Andrew Bradford scored and led ETBU with four shots, including three on goal.
Jordy Rocha finished with a goal and an assist, converting his lone shot on goal and
Dawson Lopez had the final goal on an assist from
Marco Rojas.
"This feels great as we had a tough season but getting a win in this stadium, it feels good to see everyone so excited and happy about it. We have worked hard as a group and I think it shows on the scoreboard. I am super excited to be going to the next round," says Garcia.
ETBU scored four times in the first 28:34, with Ladwig, Garcia, Rocha and Bradford each finishing during that stretch. The Tigers finished with a 19-7 advantage in shots and put 11 attempts on goal compared with two for McMurry, while
Ryan Lord needed one save over 90 minutes.
Ladwig scored from
Dylan Garcia's assist at 5:42 to put the Tigers ahead, and ETBU added three more goals before halftime. Garcia scored off
Jordy Rocha's assist (11:02), Rocha finished from Ladwig's assist (20:12), and Bradford made it 4-0 at 28:34 as the Tigers carried that lead through the end of the first half.
Dawson Lopez scored off
Marco Rojas' assist at 83:35, moving ETBU's lead from 4-1 to 5-1. Earlier in the second half, after McMurry scored at 46:41, but the Tigers generated five shots over the next 12 minutes. ETBU earned the win, 5-1, as they move onto the ASC semi-final match.
ETBU will now face No.2 seed Hardin-Simmons University on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Belton, Texas.
HALF BREAKDOWN
First Half
- ETBU built a 4-0 halftime lead with goals from Ladwig, Garcia, Rocha and Bradford.
- Ladwig, Garcia and Rocha each finished the half with a goal and an assist.
- The Tigers generated 10 shots to McMurry's one and put five attempts on goal.
- ETBU earned all three corner kicks in the half, while Lord was not required to make a save.
Second Half
- ETBU and McMurry each scored once in the half, with Dawson Lopez scoring off Marco Rojas' assist at 83:35 to set the 5-1 final.
- The Tigers outshot McMurry 9-6 and held a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal, including two on-target attempts from Garcia.
- The second half featured 11 fouls and three yellow cards, with McMurry receiving two bookings and ETBU one.
Game Notes:
- Second NCAA Post Season win in program history.
- Both ASC post season wins have come under
Chris Crawford with the first in 2018
- First post season win came in 2018 at home in the ASC Tournament quarterfinals over the University of the Ozarks, 1-0.
ETBU Top Performers
Dylan Garcia
- one goal
- one assist
- game-winning goal
- three shots, all on goal
Braxton Ladwig
- one goal
- one assist
- two shots
Jordy Rocha
- one goal
- one assist
- one shot on goal
Andrew Bradford
- one goal
- four shots
- three shots on goal
Dawson Lopez
- one goal
- one shot on goal
