TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler men's soccer got the offense and defense clicking at the same time on Wednesday night as they collected their first LSC win of the season.
 
The story of the game was the big offensive performance for the Patriots as they rolled all over the Greyhounds on a chilly Wednesday night in Tyler.
 
The early part of the game saw Eastern New Mexico create pressure over the first 15 minutes as they earned two shots, including one that forced keeper Asier Vegas to make a save in the top corner.
 
All of that early momentum flipped on a dime as Malte Andres collected the first goal of the night. Brajdi Cekrezi collected a loose ball, before delivering a beautiful long pass up to teammate Sergio Sola just outside the right edge of the box. That ball was controlled and then a low cross was drilled over to Andres who connected on a big shot from his right boot that found the top right corner for a 1-0 lead.
 
Just three minutes later in the 20^th minute, another effort from Sola led to the second goal of the night for UT Tyler. Sola received a pass just off the left corner of the box, dribbled to his right, and hit a hard shot that rattled the crossbar before bouncing in front of Lukas Paulun. Paulun was able to redirect the rebound and put it into an open net to double the lead.
 
The rest of the first half was all Patriots as they would put up a 3-0 shot advantage over the final 25 minutes. That led to a 9-5 shots advantage at the break for UT Tyler as they seized momentum.
 
That suffocating defense continued to pressure the Greyhounds as the two teams played the final 45 minutes. Early shots from Bryan Rivas-Guzman, Craig Chisolm, Sola, and Cekrezi showed that the Patriots held the momentum.
 
All of those shots would converge for the Patriots in the 55^th minute as Sola would rattle another strong shot off of the crossbar. That ball bounced right down into Andres's lap and he would be able to finish right into an open net and put the final nail in the coffin.
 
The Patriots would have one final chance on net at the 68^th minute as Rodrigo Mendes struck a shot but it was collected in the center of the goal by the Greyhounds keeper.
 
That lone shot on goal came in the midst of a 7-2 run in total in the Greyhounds favor as they looked to try and get back into the game. Those seven shots all came over the final 19 minutes of the contest. Two of those would go on goal but neither had much on them as Vegas was able to calmly collect them.
 
For the Patriots, they would post their third highest shot total of the season after outshooting Eastern New Mexico by a 17-12 margin. They held the shots on goal advantage for the second consecutive contest as well.
 
It was a critical three points seized by UT Tyler as every point will have even bigger importance heading into the final three games of the LSC slate. The Patriots still have their work cut out to make the LSC tournament, but tonight's victory goes a long way.