PORTALES, N.M. — The Eastern New Mexico men’s soccer team (7-1-0) scored a season-high five goals as the Hounds captured their first conference victory with a 5-2 defeat of UT Permian Basin Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore defender Caio Pereira had a career day as he netted a pair of goals, scoring first at the 11:55 mark and then again in the 55th minute. The Falcons would come back to tie the match on two separate occasions but three unanswered Greyhound goals carried the Green and Silver to their seventh win of 2019.
Pereira scored the match’s first goal when he intercepted a misplayed ball from UTPB and capitalized on the Falcon’s defensive miscue as he buried the ball in the bottom left corner. The Falcons tied the game at 1-1 two minutes later as midfielder Joel Hope sent a well-placed shot into the back of the net following a free kick just outside the box.
At the 23:23 mark the Hounds benefited from another defensive lapse, this time from the Falcons keeper, as sophomore forward Joe Conway stole the ball and scored his second goal of the year. With the match tied at 2-2, Conway drew a foul three yards outside the box as the Hounds where awarded a free kick. Junior defender Robbie Jenkinson took the set piece and deposited the ball into the top right corner giving the Hounds a lead they would never relinquish.
ENMU took over in the second half as they controlled the pace of play and out-shot the Falcons 6-3. In the 51st minute junior midfielder Lucas Vas started a long run down the left sideline before dribbling into the box, juking his mark and sending a rocket into the left side of the goal.
Pereira would add an insurance goal at the 55:23 mark following some spectacular passing and unselfish play from the Hounds. Conway sent a nice lead pass down the sideline to senior defender Alcides Duarte who centered the ball and found Pereira in crowded box before scoring his second goal of the match to push ENMU’s lead to 5-2.
The Hounds are back in action Saturday, Oct. 5th as they travel to face UT Tyler at 6 p.m.
