The Eastern New Mexico men’s soccer team started out their four game home stretch to close out the 2018 regular season with a 3-0 win over Dallas Baptist on Thursday night.
The Hounds (7-6-2, 5-4-2 HC) used a Gabriel Peres goal with just two minutes remaining in the first half to swing the momentum in their favor and then delivered a dominant second half to shutout the Patriots (3-11, 1-10 HC). Eastern outshot Dallas Baptist by a final total of 17-to-8 and surrendered just three shot on goal attempts, all of which were saved by keeper Ross Dalton.
The Hounds first shutout of the season came on a wet and slippery field inside Greyhound Stadium as each team took some time in the opening stages to get adjusted to the conditions. Intermediate rain showers continued throughout the match.
Forward Julian Trapp provided the first chance of the match for the Hounds just inside the 15 minute mark after a slow start for both teams on a header that was deflected away by the Patriot’s keeper. Freshman Joaquin Borrell followed up with the next chance for the Hounds on a sliding shot that missed the target high on a loose ball off a corner kick in the 29th minute.
Dalton kept the match scoreless in the 41st minute with a save on a shot off of a set piece for the Patriots, just minutes before junior Robert Leonard created a nice run down the left side of the field and then dumped off a pass to Peres that was buried in the top left corner of the net to put the first points on the board. That beautiful finish noticeably energized the Hounds and they never looked.
A dominant second half performance that saw Dallas Baptist generate essentially zero quality chances was highlighted by goals in the 62nd minute by Lucas Vaz and in the 86th minute by Caio Pereira. Vaz tallied his goal on a shot from the center of the field after midfielder Craig Brand gained control of a loose ball and set Peres up with the attempt that turned out to be a low line drive that fumbled off the keeper’s hands and into the net.
Pereira capitalized on a beautiful long ball from Dirk Kuiper that set up the Brazilian with a shot from just outside 15 yards away that found the back of the net.
Vaz led the Hounds with five total shots, two of which were on target, while Peres and Trapp served as the Hounds to record multiple shots in the contest. Brand, Leonard and Kuiper were all credited for assists throughout the match.
Eastern New Mexico will look to build upon their two game win streak on Saturday afternoon with a game scheduled for 1 p.m. against St. Edwards. Saturday’s match-up will serve as the final non-divisional game for the Hounds before they engage in showdowns next Thursday and Saturday against Lubbock Christian and West Texas A&M.
