EDINBURG, Texas – HBU answered Presbyterian's early first half goal, but could not respond to the Blue Hose's early second half strike in a 2-1 loss Sunday morning at UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
Sophomore forward
Lucas de Paula scored the first goal of his HBU career, while junior midfielder Marc-Anthone notched his third assist of the season for the Huskies (1-2-1). Marc-Anthone led HBU with three shots, while sophomore midfielder
Darrell Johnson and sophomore defender
Juan Vega had one each. Sophomore goalkeeper
Chance Pope played all 90 minutes, making two saves.
"The first minute of the game, they had a long throw that we cleared out of the box, but their defender hit the shot of his life from about 35 yards aout that went up and over Chance into the the far post," HBU head coach
Steve Jones said. "The boys settled in and started to play better creating a great combination play of the box between Lucas and Marc, that led Marc playing the ball into the box for Lucas to finish the 1v1. The second half we came out slow and didn't do a good job of keeping the ball, found ourselves not clearing the ball out of the box and they found the back of the net. From there, we just weren't dynamic enough going forward nor defending. Today was a day that we weren't consistent in the little things."
Mason Lewis had a goal and an assist for Presbyterian (1-3). Garrett Glaze scored the other goal for the Blue Hose and Sergio Pinto and Ricardo Hernandez tallied an assist apiece. Lewis and Pinto each took two shots, while four others had one. Conner Behrend picked up the win in net for the Blue Hose, making one save.
Presbyterian outshot HBU, 8-6, with four on goal to the Huskies' two. HBU held the advantage on corner kicks, 6-3.
The Blue Hose got on the board in the match's first minute as they got a throw in and Lewis found Glaze in the box for the quick score. In the 16
th minute, Marc-Anthone served a pass in the box and de Paula's right foot found the mark to pull HBU even, 1-1. The score remained tied the final 29 minutes of the first half.
Presbyterian once again attacked quickly, 1:32 into the second half, as Pinto passed into the box to Hernandez, who found Lewis for a header and what would prove to be the game-winning goal.
The Huskies return to action next weekend on the road when they face Central Arkansas Friday at 8 p.m. in Conway, then Oral Roberts Sunday at 6 p.m. in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
