September 16, 2011

Cowboys Tie Concordia

ABILENE, Texas — Hardin-Simmons found an equalizing goal in the second half and had to settle for a 1-1 tie with Concordia in the American Southwest Conference opener for both schools on Friday at the HSU Soccer Complex.

Concordia, who is in the first year under former HSU player and assistant coach Tatenda Chieza, came out early and took a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute when Andrew De Lira took a loose ball at the top of the box and sent a shot home to the bottom left corner.

HSU tied the game early in the second half when Isaiah Hicks scored for the first time this season as he hammered home a penalty kick, after a Concordia defender tackled a Cowboy player in the box.

It remained 1-1 the rest of the way and each team had multiple tries at taking the lead. Concordia had the best shot toward the end of the second overtime when a ball was loose in the box, but Logan Waters found a way to cover it up for his eighth and final save of the game.

Jacob Stern had 10 saves for Concordia and the game was closely played throughout. HSU outshot Concordia 22-16 and 11-9 on-goal.

The Cowboys (0-2-2, 0-0-1 in ASC play) will host Texas-Tyler on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Patriots are the defending ASC Champion. Concordia is now 0-2-1 overall and 0-0-1 in ASC play.

--- HSU ---