Box Score AUSTIN, Tex. – The Regis University men's soccer team (14-5-1, 10-3-2 RMAC) clashed with the St. Edward's University Hilltoppers (18-2-1, 11-2-1 Heartland) in the second round of the National Collegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA) Tournament on Saturday afternoon losing the evenly matched contest 1-0.
Both squads played a defensive minded game as the game remained scoreless for 85 minutes of play. The first half was a struggle for either team to create chances on the offensive end. Credit to both defenses as they were able to shut down any dangerous opportunities sent their way.
Regis outshot the home team 4-1 in the opening period but neither team was able to put a single shot on target. Four separate Rangers had shots while the defense only conceded a single shot that was blocked out of harm's way.
The second half of the game opened up much like the first with four quick shots from the Hilltoppers, one of which was on frame forcing sophomore goalkeeper
Chase Webert to make his first save of the match.
Offensively, RU responded as they took the next three shots in the match. Sophomore
Sindri Kristinsson was the first Regis player to put a shot on goal but the SEU goalkeeper was there to send it away.
In the 85
th minute the Hilltoppers began a counter attack and found themselves in a favorable matchup as three players headed down the field. After being played a ball into the offensive zone Steve Aoudou, of the Hilltoppers, beat Webert to the far post giving the home team a 1-0 lead very late in the match.
On the ensuing possession, senior
Jacob Lever pushed up the field and took a shot at goal but goalkeeper Kevin Leib was there to make the save for SEU. Regis was unable to find the equalizer in the final minutes and their fantastic 2016 season came to an end with a 1-0 defeat in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the hands of St. Edward's University.
Each team blasted ten shots, but the Rangers were edged out 3-2 in the shots on goal category. Both goalkeepers made two saves, RU won three corner kicks to two for the home team. When all was said and done two yellow cards, and two red cards were issued to Regis on a day that saw 25 fouls called in the match.
The men's soccer team will not be satisfied with the outcome of today's game, but the fact remains that they had a great 2016 campaign, reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013, and finishing second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). The team will look to build on the successes from this season in hopes of returning to the tournament a year from now and using this experience as motivation to make a deeper run in 2017.
