Villarreal,
Strickland Combine to Give SU Big 1-0 Win
 Schreiner
edged University of the Ozarks, 1-0, in an
outstanding men's soccer match that had plenty
riding on the line. Going into the match,
the two teams were tied at 7-2 in the ASC and
were playing for a chance to host the ASC
tournament.
For 75 minutes,
despite chances for each team, neither team
could find the back of the net. In front a
big and boisterous home crowd, senior Tyler
Strickland made possibly the hustle play of the
season. On a loose ball that two Ozarks
players and their goalkeeper were chasing down,
Strickland ran from 30 yards off the play to
split the group, disrupt the goalkeeper and
deflect the ball to teammate Ernest Villarreal
who finished off the play in front of the net to
give SU the decisive goal and win. The two
teams were so evenly matched that they tied in
shots, 14-14. Nick Morrison and the
Mountaineer defense rose to the occasion and
stopped nine shots for the team's fifth shutout.
The win gives
the Mountaineers an 8-2 ASC record - tying the
school record for ASC wins in a season - with
three regular-season matches remaining.
Schreiner also improves to 24 points and
temporarily moves into sole possession of second
place in the conference standings.
UT-Tyler currently is first but they are
ineligible to host the post-season tournament as
they are provisional members of NCAA Division
III. It also raises the stakes on
tomorrow's Senior Day match vs. UT-Dallas.
Last year, UT-Dallas came to Kerrville and beat
the Mountaineers in overtime, 1-0. |
