IRVING, Texas – After working double overtime in both matches of the opening weekend, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's soccer team played like a team determined to end things in regulation Friday night. The result was a 2-0 Cru victory over the University of Dallas. UMHB is now 2-0-1 to start the season. The loss drops the Crusaders to 1-2 on the year.
The Cru controlled the run of play for most of the first half, outshooting Dallas 9-4 in the opening 45 minutes. UMHB finally put one in the back of the net as
Jasen Zirkel scored his first collegiate goal off a
Nick Villanueva assists in the 36
th minute. The Cru defense kept it a 1-0 match until
Josh Bruton added an unassisted goal for UMHB in the 68
th minute to stretch it to 2-0. The Cru had a chance to add another goal, but Dallas goalkeeper Caleb Strange came up with a big save on
Marcelo Gaitan's penalty kick. UMHB kept the pressure on in the final minutes but could not add another goal.
Ethan Rimbey finished with eight saves in goal for the Cru and posted a shutout in his first collegiate start. Strange had 10 saves in goal for Dallas. UMHB outshot the Crusaders 22-17 with
Rolando Nieto taking a team-high four shots on the night. The Cru is now 12-0 all-time against the University of Dallas.
The Cru will now return home for the 2019 regular season home opener. UMHB will welcome Our Lady of the Lake to the Crusader Soccer Fields for a 7:30 pm start next Saturday as the second half of a women's-men's doubleheader.
