EDMOND, OKLA. – Two goals in the final 20 minutes of play led the University of Texas at Tyler men's soccer team to a 2-0 victory on Tuesday afternoon over Oklahoma Christian.
 
The Patriots (1-2-1, 1-1-1 LSC) dominated the Eagles (0-2-0, 0-2-0), out-shooting the opposition by a final total of 18-to-8, and finally got on the board with a Luis Mahecha goal at the 72:17 mark of the match. The win is the first Lone Star Conference victory of the season for UT Tyler and marks the second straight conference game in which the Patriots came away with conference points.
 
Nathaniel Lopez provided an insurance goal eight minutes later as the Patriots finally found some offensive luck after totaling 40 shots over the course of Tuesday afternoon's win and last Saturday's 1-1 tie at UT Permian Basin.
 
Mahecha's goal came from the left side of the Eagle net as the freshman midfielder beat his defender with the dribble off of a touch pass by Jack Simonini and finished with his right foot past the outstretched arms of the keeper. That goal provided UT Tyler it's first lead of the 2021 season, a lead which would be quickly doubled just a few minutes later.
 
Nathaniel Lopez provided that second goal in the 81^st minute after corralling a deflected Patriot shot on goal attempt and quickly redirected the bouncing ball from just outside the goalie box into the back of the net.
 
Mahecha finished with a season-high five shot on goal attempts in Tuesday's win, and leads the Patriots in both shots (15) and shot on goal attempts for the year (9). Thierry Assamoi and Shane Popieluch each recorded two shots on goal for the contest as well.
 
Keeper Mathias Eriksen earned his first clean sheet of the season, stopping both shot on goal attempts that he faced in his 90 minutes in net.
 
UT Tyler will return home for their next match against Midwestern State on Mar. 9 at 5:30 p.m.