MARSHALL, Texas – Hardin-Simmons Cowboy soccer team earned its third American Southwest Conference victory with a 3-1 win over East Texas Baptist on Thursday night at Cornish Field. The Cowboys improved to 4-6 overall and 3-1 in ASC play with the road victory.
Hardin-Simmons struck first in the 17
th minute when
Gabriel Rodriguez found the back of the net to give the Cowboys a 1-0 advantage. The goal stood as the lone score of the opening half as HSU carried the lead into the break.
The Cowboys doubled their lead early in the second half when
Jaxon Shaffer scored in the 49
th minute, pushing the advantage to 2-0.
East Texas Baptist answered less than six minutes later as Jake Whittington connected off an assist from Braxton Ladwig to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Tigers threatened to draw even in the 64
th minute, but HSU goalkeeper
Joaquin Sanchez came up with a save on a penalty kick to preserve the Cowboys' lead.
Rodriguez added an insurance goal in the 84
th minute, his second of the match, to seal the 3-1 victory for Hardin-Simmons.
Rodriguez led the Cowboys with two goals, while Shaffer added one score. HSU outshot East Texas Baptist 20-18 and held a 9-4 edge in corner kicks.
Joel McPherson made four saves in the first half, while Sanchez recorded four saves in the second half, including the penalty-kick stop, as the Cowboys combined for eight saves on the night.
Hardin-Simmons' next game is Saturday at Mary Hardin-Baylor at 7:30 p.m. in Belton, Texas.
--- www.hsuathletics.com ---
