Men's Soccer 10/14/2012 2:45:00 AM

Dust-Dominated!

Box Score LAREDO, Texas – The TAMIU men’s soccer team picked up their fourth win in five games Saturday afternoon, routing the McMurry War Hawks 4-1 at Dustdevil Field.

McMurry’s Sam Black was dealt a costly red card in the 26^th minute, forcing the visitors to play a man down for the majority of the match. The Dustdevils took advantage creating numerous 1-on-1 situations in which the War Hawks were forced to foul to save goals. TAMIU was awarded three penalty kicks and was able to convert each time, as they improved their overall season record to 6-4-3.

The Dustdevils outshot McMurry 24-6, including an 11-5 advantage in shots on goal. Although the score heavily favored the home team, the gap could’ve been much wider as McMurry was saved by the post on five difference occasions.

“At home we are a very tough team to beat,” said Head Coach Claudio Arias. “Coming in we wanted to possess the ball and target their outside backs. The ejection obviously worked to our favor, but I thought they had trouble containing us even before then. After watching the film from last game we thought we could take advantage of the space they were giving us and use through balls to create 1-on-1 situations. We executed the game plan well.”

TAMIU keeper Jesus Cisneros finished the match with four saves, allowing the lone goal on a penalty kick in the 18^th minute by James Ness after the Dustdevils were whistled for a foul in the box off a corner kick.

“Chuy seems to be making saves precisely when we need them this year,” said Arias. “When we were leading 3-1 he made a few big saves that would’ve given them a big momentum swing, if he had let them pass.”

Sophomore midfielder Arturo Gutierrez put the Dustdevils on the board in the 12^th minute, taking a feed from Diego Manzano-Cano and chipping a shot into the upper right corner to beat McMurry keeper Neil O’Sullivan.

At the 16 minute mark, Elkin Marin-Tobar played a perfect through ball to Cano creating a 1-on-1 with the McMurry keeper. He was awarded the first of TAMIU’s three PK’s after his legs were taken out by O’Sullivan. The keeper guessed wrong and Cano doubled TAMIU’s lead with a shot into the lower right corner. After a slow start to the season, the junior from Madrid has now scored goals in two consecutive games.

“Diego is healthy and more relaxed right now,” said Arias. “He was pressing at the beginning of the season trying to score his first goal, but now he’s settled in and he’s playing much better."

The Dustdevils put the game away in the 60^th minute, after Cano was once again taken down in the box by the McMurry keeper. Joan Vallejo stepped in to take the shot and was able to finish with a ball that rattled off the inside of the right post.

With time winding down, junior Walter Anoruo dribbled through two War Hawk defenders and O’Sullivan was once again forced to step in. He was whistled for his third foul of the match and Juan Sebastian Ramirez stepped in to bury the final PK.

The Dustdevils return to conference action on October 18, traveling to Wichita, Kansas to take on Newman University.

“It’s hard to play Newman on their home pitch… they are a completely different team at home,” said Arias. “Hopefully we can bring the same level of intensity that we had when we hosted them earlier this season.”

The game is the first of four straight conference road matches that will be vital in TAMIU’s quest for a third straight Heartland Conference Championship. The Dustdevils currently sit second in the conference Standings, trailing St. Edward’s by one game.

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