GEORGETOWN, Texas - It was pure domination in the Southwestern men's soccer season opener as the Pirates defeated Puget Sound 1-0 at home on Friday evening.
Both teams were feeling each other out through the opening ten minutes, but soon Southwestern got on a roll and got the first great look at goal of the game. Steven Resnik played a perfect through ball to Paden Williams at the edge of the 18 yard box and pulled the keeper out of goal. Williams shot past a diving JP Nash, but his ball skid just right of the goal.
Great team play continued throughout the half for the Pirates, resulting in great looks but near misses, keeping the game scoreless into halftime.
Senior Steven Resnik broke the stalemate in the 65th minute. First-year Andres Carreno-Mendez played a great ball to Resnik who sped past the Logger defensive line and drilled the ball into the back of the net for the eventual game winner.
Puget Sound wouldn't go away quietly, however, as they had opportunities to tie the match. Connor LaFerriere broke free from the pack and rocketed a shot at goal that curved just a foot outside the left post. A few fouls deep in Pirate territory allowed the Loggers to run some goal-scoring sets, but Southwestern's defense held strong as they had done all night, closing out the win.
The Pirates led 17-7 in shots and took one more corner, 3-2. Daniel Poole earned his first win of the season in goal with three saves on the evening.
Southwestern begins the year 1-0 and have a quick turnaround as they head to San Antonio to face Luther College on Saturday at 5 p.m.