SAN ANTONIO – A goal in the 76
th minute by second-seeded Midwestern State was the difference in this afternoons Lone Star Conference Championship as the top-seeded St. Mary's University Men's Soccer fell to the Mustangs in front of a crowd of 350 at Sigma Beta Chi Field.
Carlos Flores intercepted a clearance attempt from the Rattlers in the penalty box and buried it in the back of the net with his left foot for the eventual game-winner.
St. Mary's had an early opportunity for a goal in the opening half as a cross found
Edu Toiny-Pendred's foot but Toiny-Pendred was not able to get enough on it to get it past Taylor Lampe. Lampe finished the match with three saves and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
The Rattlers nearly went up 1-0 as
Nenad Markovic took a free kick just outside of the 18-yard box. Markovic kept it on the ground and bent it around the Mustangs wall, beating Lampe but the ball hit off the far post and the Mustangs were able to clear, keeping it even at zero.
St. Mary's had three corner kicks in the final 20 minutes of the match but could not find the back of the net as the Mustang defense remained solid on their way to a 1-0 victory and an LSC Tournament Championship.
Lewis Wilson,
Deni Cresto, and Toiny-Pendred earned LSC Men's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team accolades for St. Mary's.
The Rattlers now await word of their NCAA Tournament fate with the broadcast of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship Selection Show on Mon., Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m. Watch
HERE
