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Oliver Placencia 2 goals in win over No. 7 Hardin-Simmons
Jennifer Segura
Oliver Placencia came up big on the brightest stage thus far as the YellowJackets upset No. 7 Hardin-Simmons.
1
Hardin-Simmons HSU (10-1-0, 3-1-0)
3
Winner LeTourneau LETU (4-5-2, 2-2-0)
Hardin-Simmons HSU
(10-1-0, 3-1-0)
1
Final
3
LeTourneau LETU
(4-5-2, 2-2-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Hardin-Simmons HSU 0 1 1
LeTourneau LETU 0 3 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | By Jim McCurdy

YellowJackets Knock Off No. 7 Hardin-Simmons

LONGVIEW -- There was something about this YellowJackets team this weekend you could just sense. 

A hint of relaxed optimism, a sense of confidence, and that drive to put it together and let the results speak for themselves.

Mission accomplished.

LeTourneau University men's soccer team upset seventh-ranked Hardin-Simmons, 3-1, Saturday night in a game the YellowJackets seized control of in the first half, and then pounced on the opportunities they were given to rattle the ballyhooed Cowboys. In the process, LETU halted HSU's school-record 10-game win streak to send the Cowboys back to Abilene with their first loss of the season.

"Tonight, I felt like for 90 minutes we were hot," LeTourneau second-year coach Collin Cone said. "Hey, all I can say is beating the No. 7 team in the country, and beating another top team in the conference is really special. And we just got to keep stinging."

Oliver Placencia stung the Cowboys with a pair of goals in less than four minutes, securing this one away with just over 10 minutes remaining.

"Take advantage of those opportunities you get," Placencia said, following his first two-goal game of the season. "When you do get 'em, make sure you slap 'em home."

The YellowJackets slapped them home, alright. It started with Varney Carter, who banged home his first goal of the season on an assist from David Egbe in the 66th minute.

"Props to my man Varney," Placencia said. "That's what teared them down."

Placencia broke free to tuck one past Cowboys goalkeeper Rafa Mejorado in the 76th minute on an assist from Chancey Davis. He tacked on another in the 80th minute when he followed up Luis De La Torre's shot with a rebound goal to pad the Jackets' lead at 3-nil.

The YellowJackets attempted 10 shots on goal, forcing Mejorado to make five saves. HSU got only two shots on net, with LETU keeper Diego Berlingeri stopping one in his second big-game victory of the weekend.

"I think the guys are finally starting to believe in what we're trying to do as a program, do as a family, as a group, as a unit," Cone said. "That belief, and that hard work is just paying off. The guys, I keep telling 'em, we've got to stay humble, we've got to stay hungry, we've got to stay learners, and through that we're going to be able to be a really special team."
 
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