TYLER, Texas – For the second straight game, the UT Tyler men's soccer team held its own against a Top 25-ranked Lone Star Conference heavyweight, battling NCAA Division II's No. 23-ranked Eastern New Mexico to a scoreless double-overtime draw Saturday night.
The Patriots, who tied No. 19 West Texas A&M just two nights ago, produced their fifth shutout of the year behind an 11-save effort from senior goalkeeper
Parker O'Quinn, who secured three of his 11 stops in the second 10-minute overtime period.
The teams combined for 36 shots, with Eastern New Mexico generating a 23-13 edge in total shots.
With the draw, UT Tyler is now 5-1-2 overall and is off to an 0-0-2 start to Lone Star Conference play. Eastern New Mexico is now 7-1-1 overall, 0-1-1 in the LSC.
How It Happened: Eastern New Mexico produced most of its edge in shots in the first half with a 7-1 edge, but O'Quinn made the first four of his 11 saves before halftime. The teams were even in shots in the second half, 8-8, and the Greyhounds produced an 8-4 edge in shots in overtime, as both teams played with an attacking mindset in pursuit of a potential game-winner.
UT Tyler generated plentiful quality scoring chances, including an
Aron Alonso cross into the box to
Michael Agyeman for a shot which was saved by Greyhounds goalkeeper Ross Dalton in the 63
rd minute. With less than three minutes to play in regulation, a Patriots corner kick led to perhaps the best scoring chance of the contest, when
Carlos Medina collected the ball from
Travis Collins at the far left edge of the penalty box. Medina's cross found
Steven Chavez, who headed it back into the middle to
Lucas Coelho for a quick right-footed strike from 16 yards out. Coelho's shot found the feet of Dalton, who was sliding towards the right post as Coelho's shot went towards the opening on the left side of the goal.
Lucas Coelho led
Birkir Eydal into the box for one of the Patriots' best chances in overtime in the 94
th minute, but Dalton pounced to the ball to prevent Eydal from getting a shot off. Eastern New Mexico played the final 7:34 with 10 players after Alcides Duarte was sent off with a red card for unsporting conduct.
By The Numbers: Although Eastern New Mexico finished with a 23-13 margin in total shots, the Greyhounds put less than half (11 of 23) of their shots on goal… UT Tyler, however, put nine of 13 shots on goal…
Michael Agyeman fired a game-high four shots, including three shots on goal…
Parker O'Quinn tied his UT Tyler career-high of 11 saves, matching the 11 stops he made two nights earlier against West Texas A&M to give him 22 saves with just one goal allowed in 220 minutes of action on the week… Eastern New Mexico also finished with an edge in corner kicks, 10-7.
What's Next: UT Tyler meets its third straight Division II Top-25 opponent in its first Lone Star Conference road game next week, when the Patriots visit No. 13-ranked Midwestern State on Thursday, Oct. 10.
Quotable (UT Tyler head coach Kenny Jones): "I expected the guys to come out and work as hard as they can, support each other the best way they possibly can, and I think that's what happened this week. Both of these games could have gone either way, and you just want to give yourself a chance. We did that in both games which is a real positive for us."
"Our league has a lot of quality, and next week is going to be just as tough as this week. The weekend after that will be the same thing, and there's just not going to be an easy opponent on the schedule in this league. We're still composed of such a diverse group of players in terms of experience, and we're still trying to get them all on the same page and manage what this league looks like at the same time is a huge challenge."
"
Parker O'Quinn is a senior, and the way he's playing is what you expect from all of your seniors. Both goalkeepers made some outstanding saves and did a great job tonight."
