Above photo courtesy of the UMHB Athletics Department
BELTON, Texas- After being shutout 4-0 by Hardin-Simmons in its last contest against the Cowboys, the UMHB men’s soccer team returned the favor Saturday night, scoring three times in the first half to notch a 3-0 shutout.
It kept the Crusaders perfect in ASC play, as they secured the ASC regular season title and the right to host the semifinals and final of the conference tournament, set for Nov. 5-7. The Cru will also host a quarterfinal match on Nov. 2. It also marked the third time in program history that UMHB has captured the conference’s regular season title, and tied the program record for consecutive ASC wins (9).
Leading the charge in Saturday’s monumental win was senior forward Patrick Roach, who scored twice in the contest. He scored the Cru’s first goal of the contest in the 19th minute, before finding the back of the net at the 35:19 mark on an assist from Sam Wooding.
That goal gave UMHB a 3-0 advantage, as freshman forward Ethan Dacaret’s seventh goal of the season came two minutes after Roach’s first score of the match. Dacaret scored on a header off a throw-in from Nick Villanueva.
With solid goalkeeping from Dalton Lloyd, UMHB was able to preserve the shutout in the second half. Lloyd tallied two saves in the first half, adding a third over the final 45 minutes of play.
The Cru outshot the Cowboys 10-9, with five of those shots on goal.
UMHB enters next Friday’s regular season finale against Concordia (TX) with a 9-0 record in conference play and an 11-3 record overall. That match is set for 7:30 p.m. CT in Belton. Concordia is 7-0-2 in ASC play.
UMHB women’s soccer loses to Hardin-Simmons in double-overtime
Entering Saturday’s match, four of the last five meetings between UMHB and Hardin-Simmons had been decided by just one goal, including the last contest, won by HSU in overtime. Past history repeated itself in the 2021 edition of the rivalry, as the Cowgirls of Hardin-Simmons found a way to edge the Cru in overtime, 1-0.
The Crusaders put together two halves of solid defense during regulation, holding HSU to just three shots. But HSU’s defense was equally good, limiting UMHB to the same number of shots over the first 90 minutes of action.
That is not to say opportunities did not unfold for both teams during regulation, notably HSU’s last shot of the first half, which was saved by UMHB goalkeeper Reagan Williams. Williams also tallied a key save in the match’s 87th minute, pushing the contest into overtime.
Though the Cowgirls posted three shots in the first overtime period, they did not find the back of the net until the 105th minute, which came in the second overtime period. That game-winning goal came on a penalty kick from Madelyn Dowell, as she sailed the shot past Williams to give HSU the victory. HSU was given the penalty kick opportunity after a penalty was called in the box against UMHB.
The Cru tallied just one shot on goal for the game’s entirety, which came from Grace Greenly in the 58th minute. Four different Crusaders posted one shot in the match.
UMHB, now 11-3-1 on the year and 6-2-1 in ASC play, looks towards the regular season finale next Friday. The Crusaders are set to host Concordia (TX) for a 5:00 p.m. CT match in Belton. The Tornadoes are 7-2 in conference action this season.
