HOUSTON, Texas – The Concordia University Texas men's soccer team officially punched its ticket to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Tournament with a 1-0 shutout victory over the University of St. Thomas on Sunday afternoon at SaberCats Stadium.
The Tornados remained perfect in conference play, securing their fifth consecutive SCAC victory and clinching a spot in the postseason tournament. With 15 conference points, Concordia now sits just three points, or one victory, away from securing a first-round bye in the SCAC Tournament.
Concordia wasted little time making its presence felt as Joseph Perez found the back of the net just 1:25 into the contest. The early strike gave the Tornados a 1-0 advantage that would hold for the remainder of the match.
The Tornados continued applying offensive pressure throughout the opening half. Enoch Morebise tested the St. Thomas goalkeeper in the 12th minute before Ayden Hildreth forced another save in the 28th minute. Morebise followed with two additional shots on target in the 30th minute as Concordia looked to extend its lead.
Concordia entered halftime holding a 9-5 advantage in shots, including five attempts on goal, while maintaining its one-goal lead.
St. Thomas increased its offensive pressure in the second half, recording 10 shots over the final 45 minutes. However, the Tornados' defensive unit remained composed, turning away each opportunity to preserve the shutout.
Goalkeeper Leonel Cuellar played a pivotal role in the victory, recording six saves, all in the second half. Cuellar made several crucial stops down the stretch, including saves in the 81st, 88th and 90th minutes to keep the Celts off the scoreboard.
Despite the increased pressure, Concordia continued creating opportunities of its own. Hildreth forced a save in the 71st minute, while Edmond Elone, Lorenzo Maule and Adan Rajendran each placed shots on target during the final 12 minutes.
The Tornados finished with 14 shots, including 10 on goal, while St. Thomas recorded 15 shots with six on target. Morebise and Hildreth led Concordia with three shots apiece, while Rajendran added two shots on goal.
Defensively, Concordia's back line, anchored by Cuellar and Steven Dolan, held firm throughout the contest to secure the clean sheet and three critical conference points.
Concordia Texas will next head to Clarksville, Arkansas to take on the Ozarks this Friday. Kick off is scheduled for 5pm.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX men's soccer program, follow us on social media @ctxathletics and visit athletics.concordia.edu.
