SEGUIN, Texas - Following 90 minutes of scoreless action, the LeTourneau University men's soccer team could not withstand an early shot in overtime that proved to be the difference in a 1-0 road loss to Texas Lutheran University at Gustafson Field in Seugin, Texas on Friday, September 1st.
LeTourneau drops their season opener to fall to 0-1 while the host Bulldogs improved to 1-0. Dating back to last season, LETU is winless in five straight overtime games with their last win in extra time coming against Texas Lutheran to open the season last year (1-0).
An up and down pace to the game would see TLU fire off eight shots in the first 45 minutes of play but be held to just two shots on goal in the opening frame. The YellowJackets would get off four shots in the first period and put two on goal thanks in part to a Texas Lutheran red card in the 41st minute that would see the Bulldogs have to play the majority of the game down a man.
Things would take on a simiilar feel in the second half with both teams putting up seven shots, but goalies
Miguel Cabrera for LETU and Brendan Soto for TLU turning away a combined five shots on goal to send the game to extra time. In extra time, Cole Welker would send a pass down the left side to David Ching would beat Cabrera to the near post to send in the game winner and end things just 1:07 into the extra period.
Statistically, Texas Lutheran would outshoot LeTourneau 16-11 and hold a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks with all three Bulldog corner kicks coming in the first half. Each team was guilty of 12 fouls with TLU receiving three total cards (one red, two yellow) and LETU receiving one yellow card.
Sophomore
Zachariah Malik led the team with three shots (one on goal) while
Edgar Sanchez and
Eduardo Barron each had two shots. Cabrera would play all 91:07 between the pipes and make a total of four saves.
A quick turnaround will see the YellowJackets hit the field again tomorrow in Kerrville, Texas where they will take on Schreiner University at 3 p.m. The Mountaineers were victorious by a score of 1-0 over East Texas Baptist in their season opener on Friday.
