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Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's soccer team could not overcome a pair of costly late mistakes as the Cru fell to Hardin-Simmons University 2-0 in an NCAA Division III National Championship First Round Match Thursday in Belton. The two teams were meeting in Belton for the third time in four weeks.
The two teams were scoreless through the first half and deep into the second half before the Cowboys made the Cru pay for a pair of costly mistakes. UMHB turned the ball over deep in its own territory on a goal kick and Chris Hunter controlled for the Cowboys and then drilled the ball into the lower right corner of the net 78:35 into the match to make it 1-0 Hardin-Simmons. It was the first goal the Cowboys had scored against UMHB in 278:35 of play between the two teams this season. HSU would add an insurance goal 8:10 later. Cru goalkeeper Mark Miller came of the net to clear a free ball, but not get the ball out of the UMHB end. Isaiah Hicks outraced the Cru defense to the ball and drilled into an empty net at the 86:45 mark for the final goal of the match.
"This loss doesn't define this team or our season," Cru head coach
Brad Bankhead said. "More importantly than the success we had on the field, off the field, I coach men of intergrity and I am very proud of them and what we have accomplished this season."
Logan Waters finished with six saves to post the shutout in goal for Hardin-Simmons. Miller had two saves in goal for UMHB. The Cowboys outshot the Cru 13-11 in the match.
Hardin-Simmons improves to 11-2-6 overall on the season. The Cowboys will now advance to the Second Round to face Trinity University in a 6:00 PM start Sunday night in San Antonio. The Cru sees its season end with a 14-4-1 record. UMHB was making its first appearance in the NCAA Division III National Championship. The Cru also won the ASC regular season championship for the first time in school history and set a school record for victories in a season. The UMHB men posted the highest national ranking in the program's history by climbing as high as #16 in the country this season. Thursday's match was the final match for five UMHB seniors as Daniel Green, Chris Gilham, Kinzey Joiner, Andrew Shipman and Joseph Warren all played the final matches of their Cru careers.
