SAGU steers clear of Horns, 4-1

Sturgeon scores twice, Ambrosie two assists

Southwestern hosts Wiley on Thursday, 1pm

TYLER, Texas  --  A year after snapping a seven game losing streak to Texas College, the Southwestern Assemblies of God University men’s soccer team made it two in a row with a 4-1 triumph in East Texas on Monday.

The game was a make-up of a rained-out match from Saturday.

Sophomore Parker Sturgeon (Bartlesville, Ok / Bartlesville HS) scored what turned out to be the game-winner late in the first half, and buried a second tally in the closing stages of the game to put the Steers on ice. In 2011 he had two assists in a 5-2 SAGU win in Waxahachie.

During the string of seven consecutive losses to TC, the Lions were dominated to the tune of a 38-6 deficit in scoring.

The improving Purple Pride left little doubt they planned on adding to last year’s triumph with a quick score.

Five minutes in, freshman Robert Ambrosie (Iasi, Romania / Richard Wurmbrand HS) advanced the ball down the left flank. He threaded the needle by sending a cross over the middle to senior striker Danny Martinez (Houston, Tx / Cypress Creek HS).

He followed with a blast from eight-yards out that beat the keeper into the right corner for a 1-0 lead the Lions would savor till the final horn. It was the seventh goal this season for Martinez.

Sturgeon (STIR-jun, like the fish) gave SAGU a 2-0 lead at the half when he scored in the 32nd minute. Ambrosie (am-BRO-see) angled a 25-yard cross, from right-to-left, that Sturgeon headed into the net from five yards.

The Lions, holding a 2-1 lead, clinched it with goals in the 80th and 85th minutes.

Carlos Gonzalez (Los Angeles, Cal / Latin America Bible Institute) slashed towards the goal and was taken down inside the box. It resulted in a foul and a penalty kick.

Freshman Lee Kounas (Dallas, Tx / Townview HS) was chosen to take the 12-yard spot kick. His laser grazed the crossbar on its way into the net.

Finally, Sturgeon delivered the goods again. Joel Ramirez (Red Oak, Tx / Red Oak HS) dribbled forward on the right side before lining a low cross along the forums. Sturgeon, open near the right post, one-timed it with his left foot. His shot beat the goalie from 16-yards.

With the win, SAGU improved its record to 5-6 in all games and are now 1-3 in the Red River Athletic Conference. The Steers are off to their slowest start in years at 1-8 and 0-3.

The Lions are now tied for eighth place in the 12-team league. Only LSU-Shreveport has more than SAGU’s five wins.

The top six teams qualify for the RRAC post-season tournament. Last fall the Pride enjoyed their first-ever winning season at 10-9-5, but finished in seventh.

Southwestern plays host to Wiley College on Thursday, October 4. The action commences at 1:00pm (CST). A year ago the Lions took the winless Wildcats lightly and came away with a 0-0 double-overtime tie.

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.