GEORGETOWN, Texas — The Southwestern University men's soccer team showed depth with new freshman players as Nathaniel Blake scored his first collegiate goal to give the Pirates a 1-0 win over the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs.

Starting the season with a very different, very young team, the Southwestern Pirates came to the field fresh, conditioned, and assured confidence that showed no sign of inexperience from new players.

At the start of the game, both teams were very physical, trying to gain possession of the ball. Texas Lutheran, which holds the 2020 Sothern Colligate Athletic Conference (SCAC) championship title, played with tenacious intensity and had the most control of the ball in the first several minutes of the game. However, both Pirates and Bulldogs struggled to create a chance to attempt any shots. However, after some time adapting to the intensity of Texas Lutheran's defense, Southwestern's Skyler Frey attempted the first shot of the game by heading the ball at the goal. The Bulldogs goalie was quick on the save, but this started the Pirates' momentum to begin taking shots at the Bulldogs goal.

After a few minutes of back and forth play, freshman forward Nathaniel Blake from Helotes, Texas, took advantage of a short pass by the Bulldog defense and created a fast break towards the Texas Lutheran goalie, Caleb Weed. Blake dribbled the ball up to a foot away from Weed, who was charging to try and stop Blake's shot, but with a swift kick to the right, the ball rolled past Weed and into the net. This marked Blake's first collegiate goal and gave the Pirates the advantage of a 1-0 lead.

The Pirates extended their lead into the second half, placing a strong defense in front of an urgent Bulldogs offense. Southwestern goalie Jack Viles had two big saves for the Pirates out of five shots the Bulldogs attempted to tie the game. However, with the minutes winding down, Texas Lutheran could not score a goal to extend the game, resulting in the Pirates winning their season opener and defeating last year's SCAC champions.

Southwestern University men's soccer starts the season 1-0 and prepares to play their first away game against the Schreiner Mountaineers on Saturday, March 6 at 2 p.m in Kerrville, Texas.

#GOAL!!! @SUPiratesMSOC Nathaniel Blake scores first career goal, giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead over TLU! #GoPirates pic.twitter.com/vTITxKOeLP

— Southwestern Pirates (@SUPirates) February 28, 2021

For more SU Pirate photos, please see Carlos Barron Photography.