AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward’s men’s soccer team opened up Heartland Conference play with a victory over UT-Permian Basin in overtime, 4-3, Friday afternoon at Lewis-Chen Family Field.

 

UT-Permian Basin (2-3, 0-1 HC) started off strong taking the first four shots of the game, but they were unable to find the back of the net. St. Edward’s (3-1, 1-0 HC) opened the scoring in the 19^th minute when JR Ellis (Junior, Coppell, Texas) scored on a one-on-one with the keeper off the throw in from Matt McLaughlin (Sophomore, Allen, Texas).

 

A minute later Ellis tapped the ball in off of a low cross into the box from Daniel Pena (Sophomore, Plano, Texas) past the diving keeper to make it 2-0.

 

In the 36^th minute Falcons forward Tyler Pate fired back, scoring off a through-ball from German Chavarria to the far post from 10 yards out.

 

Five minutes into the second half Sam Burns (Freshman, Newcastle, England) was able to find Robert Olivieri (Junior, Keller, Texas) behind the Falcon defense to cross the ball in for an easy tap-in.

 

UT-Permian Basin answered back in the 55^th minute with a header by Dylan Slaughter off the cornerkick from Chavarria.  

 

In the 62^nd minute a foul would be called on the Hilltoppers giving the Falcons their second penalty kick of the game, tying it up, 3-3.The game would then go into overtime.

 

In the 96^th minute James Martin (Junior, Haywards Heath, England) would take the Hilltoppers first penalty kick, scoring the “Golden Goal” giving the Hilltoppers the win.

 

The Hilltoppers will be back in action Sunday when they host #3 Midwestern State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Lewis-Chen Family Field. Live audio and stats will be available on the St. Edward’s Athletic Website.

 

As a member of NCAA Division II and the Heartland Conference, St. Edward’s, has captured 46 conference titles, advanced to the NCAA tournament 48 times and has produced 30 All-Americans and 24 Academic All-Americans since 1999.

 

Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, St. Edward's University is named among the top five "Up-and-Coming Universities" in the Western Region by its academic peers in a 2011 U.S. News & World Report survey. For eight consecutive years St. Edward's has been recognized as one of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report. St. Edward’s has also been named one of “America’s Best Colleges” by Forbes and the Center for College Affordability.

 

St. Edward's is a private, Catholic, liberal arts university of more than 5,400 students located in Austin, Texas. For more information on St. Edward’s University, visit http://www.stedwards.edu/athletics.