LUBBOCK, TEXAS – UT Tyler battled until the final whistle, but came up just short as Lubbock Christian collected a 1-0 victory over the Patriots on Saturday afternoon.
 
The first half nearly got started with a bang as Bryan Rivas-Guzman laced a shot from a set piece that forced a diving save from the Lubbock Christian keeper to keep the game scoreless just four minutes in.
 
Seven minutes later, another opportunity came up big for UT Tyler as Malte Andres broke free and got around the Chaps defense to take another shot and force another save by the Lubbock Christian keeper.
 
That offensive pressure would continue over the first 25 minutes of the match as the Patriots outshot the Chaps 7-2 in that stretch. Of those shots, four total would go on net as both Sergio Sola and Zach Panagiotou each forced a save.
 
In the 28^th minute, the Chaps would capitalize on a bouncing ball deep in Patriots territory. That ball was picked up and passed out wide by Tariq Bakkali. That pass was collected by Pablo Galietero Diaz, who then hooked in an incredible shot from just beyond the penalty box that found the upper corner and gave the Chaps a 1-0 lead.
 
The two teams would muster up just one more shot over the half, and the Chaps would take the halftime lead. The Patriots outshot the Chaps 7-4 over the first 45 minutes and force the Chaps to make five saves.
 
The first big chance of the second half for UT Tyler came just six minutes in as Sola ripped a shot from just outside the box that bounced awkwardly and forced a save from the Chaps keeper. It was a well put together play off of a long pass from Asier Vegas that opened up the defense and almost allowed the equalizer.
 
Both teams would turn the game into a defensive affair that saw just one shot over the next 20 minutes. Both teams would trade shots just 20 seconds apart in the 71^st minute but none would find the net.
 
Some late pressure from the Patriots over the final 10 minutes forced three more shots with one of those going on goal by Panagiotou. That shot was set up by several nice passes from the Patriot offense, including a nice cross from Birkir Eydal that landed in the lap of Panagiotou, who then turned and fired a bouncing shot that was collected by the Chaps keeper.
 
That shot from Panagiotou would be the final shot on net for the Patriots as they would come up just one goal short in the 1-0 contest.
 
On the day, the Patriots outshot the Chaps 13-7 and held a 7-4 advantage in shots on goal.
 
Next up for UT Tyler will be a return to Citizens 1^st Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex for a two game homestand against Eastern New Mexico and Texas A&M International. Wednesday will see the Greyhounds and Patriots square off at 7 p.m. under the lights as the Patriots celebrate Pink Week across the UT Tyler campus.