Today's 1pm Men's Soccer Preview
SAGU plays host to Wiley College
Lions leads RRAC in scoring
.jpg "BUST A MOVE: Parker Sturgeon (8) scored twice on Monday. Moving Pictures photo.")
WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- Today’s college soccer doubleheader between the visiting Wiley College and Southwestern Assemblies of God University pits teams who are confident a win would propel them into the stretch run of their season.
The Wildcats men’s and women’s teams are in town to take on SAGU in a pair of Red River Athletic Conference games.
Wiley began their men’s program a year ago, going 0-10-1. Their lone non-loss came at the expense of SAGU after a scoreless, double overtime tie.
That game cost the Lions a berth in the RRAC tournament and, when finished, the Wildcats celebrated around their coach, Demetrio Hernandez, on the Southwestern field.
The women are into their inaugural campaign this fall, and bring an 0-7 mark into their game this afternoon.
Here is a preview of the men's contest:
MEN’S SOCCER
Wiley College (1-7 overall, 1-3 in RRAC) at SAGU (5-6, 1-3), 1:00pm
Southwestern overlooked Wiley last season and paid for it dearly, despite outshooting them 32-10. The upstart ‘Cats, from Marshall, Texas, stunned Northwood University, 2-1, in their most recent outing.
They scored the winning goal (John Avila) with just over a minute to play.
While scoring has been scarce (5 goals), the defense has been the backbone of the team. In six of their eight games the Wildcats have allowed two goals or less, including the last four. Wiley has permitted only 18 scores, an average of 2.2 per contest.
Southwestern, meanwhile, enters play as the RRAC’s top-scoring offense with 27 goals (2.45 per game). Defensively, however, has been the club’s Achilles heel, yielding 23.
Individually, Luis Torres tops the ‘Cats with two goals. Leonardo Saurit and Torres leads the team in shots with 14 and nine respectively.
Lorenzo Munoz is the primary goalie, allowing only 1.9 goals per. Wiley’s defense has proven stiff and balanced, drawing just 13 yellow card citations, all to different players.
SAGU has struggled in recent weeks, the same time their scoring leader Danny Martinez (Houston, Tx / Cy-Creek HS) has battled a sprained ankle. His facing constant double-teams, though, has opened things up for others.
Lee Kounas (Dallas, Tx / Townview HS) has equaled Martinez in points with 15, while Parker Sturgeon (Bartlesville, Ok / Bartlesville HS) and Robert Ambrosie (Iasi, Romania / Wurmbrand HS) each have 11.
Surrendering late scores has countered games in which the Lions have dominated, has been costly. Four one-goal setbacks, two in double OT, has hamstrung a young and potent team.
The Lions’ 16 yellow infractions ranks sixth least in the 12-team league.
Hit the Road, Jack
SAGU travels to Houston on Saturday, October 6, for a 6:00pm clash with the University of St. Thomas Celts (pronounced Kelts). They have an extended road trip next week to San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley on October 11 and 13.
Four of the top five teams in the Red River are on tap during the team’s final six games after the Wiley game.
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.
