SAGU rolls to 9-1 win
Most goals since 2006
Martinez scores hat trick
WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- It was as noisy as the testing room of a bass-drum factory!
The men’s soccer team from Southwestern Assemblies of God University, after two games of offensive jitters, broke free to rout Southwestern College (Ks), 9-1.
The Lions had plenty of reason to bang their drum. They struck early and often in building an 8-0 lead at intermission on a sweltering Labor Day afternoon.
Senior forward Danny Martinez (Houston, Tx / Cy-Creek HS) and freshman defender Nathan Dyke (Waxahachie, Tx / Waxahachie HS) opened the game by teaming up for a pair of quick goals.
They dittoed the scores from close range, Dyke assisting Martinez inside the box just 1:13 into the match, followed-up by the encore at the 13:40 mark.
Martinez, the Red River Athletic Conference 2011 leader in goals (15) and points (38), is one of the league’s best in the air. The second tally came on a header.
Less than a minute later the Purple Pride struck again. Left winger Parker Sturgeon (Bartlesville, Ok / Bartlesville HS) cashed in on a helper from Lee Kounas (KOON-uhs) (Dallas, Tx / Townview HS). The scoring parade was following the band!
Any hopes of a comeback for the Moundbuilders (1-1) were dashed when SAGU erupted for four goals in a span of five minutes.
Joel Ramirez (Red Oak, Tx / Red Oak HS), Dyke, Robert Ambrosie (Iasi, Romania / Richard Wurmbrand HS) and Kounas struck scoring notes during rushes from midfield.
Passes from Ambrosie, Sturgeon, Kounas and Martinez keyed a selfless power surge on a day when everything seemed to click.
This year's Lions have amped up their offense with the addition of speed and a back line that has scoring punch.
When Martinez booted a Will Elliott (Mesquite, Tx / Cathedral of Life Christian) assist in the final minute, the Lions had scored more in one half than they had in nearly 100 games.
In fact, the squad hadn’t racked up eight goals since November of 2006 when they routed Northwood University, 7-3, a duration of 97 games.
Last fall during SAGU’s first-ever winning season (10-9-5), their high was five, which they produced on three occasions.
The margin swelled to nine as James Swearingin (Arlington, Tx / Home School) zipped a pass that allowed Eric “Chino”
Quan (San Pedro Sula, Honduras/Seran Bilingual School) to net his first collegiate goal.
Quan (kwahn) went low and hammered a missile to round-out the Lions scoring ten minutes into the second half. The 5'7 freshman from Honduras managed three shots after recess.
Head Coach Clem Oancea sat a number of starters at the half, allowing reserves to play the entire second half.
Cesar Galvan (Allen, Tx / Lovejoy HS) and Cesar Espana (Katy, Tx (El Salvador) / Cinco Ranch HS) each played a half between the pipes. Neither was tested a lot as the offense stole the show.
Martinez finished with seven points on three goals and an assist. Kounas and Dyke both had four points on a goal and two assists.
SAGU fired 25 shots to SC’s 4, and were whistled for eight of the game’s twelve fouls. Evidence of the Lions’ assault was reflected in four offside violations and all of the game’s five cornerkicks.
The victory upped the Lions record to 2-1.
Southwestern College avoided a shutout with an impressive kick in the 65th minute. Jordan Garcia crushed a shot from 16 yards out.
The blast sailed high and under the crossbar from the middle of the box. Colin Baker was credited with the assist.
There was no scoring in the final twenty-five minutes.
The teams last met in 2010, when Southwestern College eked out a 2-1 triumph. SAGU won in 2009, 3-1. The Builders had a 5-13 mark last season.
Lions Soccer Broadcast on Saturday
This Saturday, September 8, SAGU plays host to Louisiana College (1-0), an NCAA Division III team. The match will be broadcast by SAGU Sports Live in high definition on the internet.
Rob Price and Tim Roberts will bring the action, starting with a pre-game show at approximately 4:45pm (CST). Sideline reporter Bianca Alarcon will provide information and interviews from field level.
Fans can view the game at no charge at sagu.edu/tv.
Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, SAGU Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.
Note: Soccer fans can view and/or purchase action photos of the game, along with other SAGU sports, at the Moving Pictures website. www.movingpictures.photoreflect.com
