MARSHALL, Texas — Under the lights and in front of the strong men's soccer home crowd, East Texas Baptist University opened its home slate in style, defeating Southwestern University (TX) 3-1 on Friday at Cornish Field. It is the first program win in five tries over Southwestern as the Tigers move to 2-0 for the third year in a row to start the season.
ETBU withstood seven Southwestern attacking actions from 81:01 to 89:27 without conceding during a late stretch that began with a 2-1 score. The Tigers recorded 14 saves, including eight in the second half, while Southwestern (TX) finished with 22 shots and 15 shots on goal.
Joshua Daley scored twice, including the first goal of the game, and put all three of his shots on goal.
Ryan Lord played all 90 minutes in goal and made 14 saves while allowing one goal. Jake Whittington added a goal on two shots, both on frame, and converted his lone penalty attempt.
Braxton Ladwig recorded an assist and finished with one point.
Daley opened the scoring for ETBU at 22:54, giving the home side a 1-0 lead in the first half. The Tigers created chances earlier in the half with a corner in the third minute, a
Preston McLean shot wide, and a
Dylan Garcia attempt saved by SU, while Lord answered Southwestern (TX)'s early looks with saves in the eighth and 17th minutes. After Daley's goal, ETBU absorbed a Southwestern (TX) stretch that included three corners and four shots from 25:45 to 33:50, with Lord saving two SU attempts to keep the score at 1-0. Southwestern (TX), though, broke through late to score at 41:54, and the half ended tied 1-1.
After 22 minutes into the second half, Daley put the Tigers in front in the 67th minute, scoring off a Ladwig assist for a 2-1 lead, and Jake Whittington added a penalty-kick goal at 86:17 to extend it to 3-1. ETBU opened the second half with two corner kicks and forced saves on shots by Whittington and Daley in the first seven minutes. Lord kept Southwestern (TX) from breaking through during the half, making multiple saves before and after Daley's goal, including stops in the 73rd and 76th minutes. Southwestern (TX) continued to press late with a corner kick and several shots in the final 10 minutes, but the Tigers held the lead through the end of the match to finish a 3-1 win, including a penalty kick late in the match.
ETBU hosts Concordia Texas on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Cornish Field.
Match Breakdown
First Half
- Daley put the Tigers ahead at 22:54, but Southwestern (TX) scored at 41:54 to send the teams into halftime tied 1-1.
- ETBU put three of its four first-half attempts on frame, with Daley scoring and Garcia forcing two saves.
- Southwestern (TX) recorded 11 shots to the Tigers' four and held a 4-1 edge in corner kicks, while Lord made six saves.
Second Half
- ETBU scored both goals after halftime to turn a 1-1 game into a 3-1 win, with Daley finishing Ladwig's assist at 66:49 and Jake Whittington converting a penalty kick at 86:17.
- Lord made eight second-half saves as the Tigers kept Southwestern (TX) scoreless despite 11 shots and three corner kicks from the visitors.
ETBU Top Performers
Joshua Daley
- 2 goals
- 4 points
- three shots on goal
Ryan Lord
- 14 saves
- 90 minutes in goal
Jake Whittington
- 1 goal
- 2 points
- two shots on goal
Braxton Ladwig
- one assist
