BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Concordia Texas men's soccer team was unable to overcome a 1-0 first-half deficit and dropped its 2009 regular season opener 3-0 to Huston-Tillotson on Tuesday evening at the Town & Country Optimist Soccer Fields.

Huston-Tillotson (1-1-1) struck first just over 16 minutes into the match when Victor Colin cleaned up a ball that had been kicked into the air and one-touched it on the ground past the diving hands of Tornados (0-1-0) goalkeeper #Jacob Stern#.

The offensive surge by Huston-Tillotson continued when Oumar Dijba finished a pass from Pedro Zamarripa with a scissor kick into the top right corner of the net to stretch the lead to 2-0 at the 48:11 mark.

"It seemed that our team was deflated after the second goal of the night," said Concordia head coach Dan Darden. "It was a quality shot by their player, but we really went flat as we went down by two goals."

The Rams found the net once more in the second half as Zamarippa scored on a shot from 18 yards out which went over Stern's hands. Dijba returned the favor for Zamarippa and was credited with the assist.

Concordia Texas' offensive effort was stymied throughout the evening by a Huston-Tillotson defense that limited the home side to just one shot on goal for 90 minutes. Though the Tornados managed just seven shots on the night (to 25 total shots by Huston-Tillotson), Concordia's chances were solid efforts.

"We created pretty good chances through our midfield and to our forwards and got some good opportunities to score," Darden said.

Senior #Armando Dimeo# took a team-high three shots, including two that were just off target. Dimeo missed on a header chance that went wide and a volley that traveled just over the crossbar.

"If we score one or two of those chances it's a much different game," Darden said.

Both teams registered six corner kicks on the evening. The Rams were charged with 19 fouls in the contest, while Concordia picked up nine.

Stern posted five saves in his goalkeeping debut for the Tornados.

"There were glimmers today of some really good things," Darden said. "We just didn't sync up the way I hoped we would, but we have a few days to work on these things and get ready for our next game."

Concordia will have the opportunity to bounce back this weekend as they host Paul Quinn College in a 4:00 p.m. kickoff at the Town & Country Optimist Soccer Fields on Sept. 5.

---------------------

GAME NOTES:

-- Freshman #Chase Michalak# made his first career start for the Tornados tonight.  Overall, Concordia had six freshmen receive minutes and make their first official collegiate appearance.

-- Junior transfers #Mathew Waltz# and #Jacob Stern# made their first career appearances for the Tornados.