GEORGETOWN, Texas - Five seniors celebrated their final home game with a 2-0 win over Austin College on Sunday afternoon.
Each team spent the early part of the game sizing up their opponent as there were no real threats through the opening 15 minutes.
As Southwestern started to get the feel for the game the Pirates played strong possession soccer and patiently worked the ball around the field, looking for the perfect opportunity to attack. SU found their chances but the 'Roos but together nice offside traps to keep the Pirates from playing the ball through to Marco Alcocer and Evan Perkins.
SU also had numerous corner kick opportunities, but weren't able to capitalize on any as the first half closed out tied 0-0.
The start of the second half was all about counter attacks for both teams as the game went quickly from one end of the field to the other. SU's Perkins and Alcocer teamed up on a breakaway for the first promising look of the game and the 'Roos came right back as Caleb Sherer and Seth Windsor teamed up for the attacking response.
The constant pressure on Austin's defense paid off as Marco Alcocer was fouled in the box on a breakaway, resulting in a penalty kick for the Pirates. Senior Ryan Staten confidently addressed the ball on the penalty kick and placed it perfectly to the right, just inside the post, that wasn't able to be saved by Andrew Celio in goal despite making the correct directional guess.
In response, Austin College turned up the offensive pressure and began to play more aggressively
AC's offside trap didn't work as Perkins brought the ball toward goal after a long pass from the defensive line. Perkins came strong toward the near side goal post with the ball and passed to Steven Resnik in front of the goal. Resnik's shot slid just outside the far side post, keeping Southwestern to a one goal lead, 1-0.
After a late corner kick the 'Roos seemed poised to tie the game with under eight minutes to play as they were awarded a penalty kick after a foul in the box. Guillermo Allande took the free kick and sent it towards the upper ninety on the right and careened off the corner of the crossbar and out of bounds to keep the Pirates in the lead 1-0.
Southwestern added insurance with a minute remaining as Zach Faulkner played the ball across the box to Resnik on the near side of the goal. With an open goal in front of him, Resnik played the ball to Staten who touched the ball into the back of the net, giving SU a 2-0 lead with under a minute to go.
Daniel Poole posted three saves in the match while Celio recorded six. The Pirates took 15 shots while holding the 'Roos to nine. SU also had 10 corner kicks while allowing just two for AC.
Southwestern, now 10-6 on the year and 3-3 in the SCAC, next head to Irving, Texas on October 19th to face the University of Dallas.