Men's soccer blanks Oral Roberts
Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2003 1:29 amPenalty kick salvages win over upstart ORU
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Sophomore forward Duke Hashimoto was dragged down in the 101st minute -- the first minute of the second overtime period -- and freshman midfielder Ramon Nuñez converted the ensuing penalty kick to give the SMU men's soccer team a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Oral Roberts in the first round of the SMU/Mi Cocina Classic at SMU's Westcott Field.
Nuñez's goal ended a game that SMU head coach Schellas Hyndman said was every bit as close as he expected.
"They're a very good team, a very athletic team" Hyndman said of ORU. "They were very focused on not getting beat tonight. They played with a lot of heart and courage."
The statistics for the game would not indicate the game was close, as the Ponies registered 12 shots on goal, as opposed to the single shot on goal mustered by the Eagles (a shot that SMU goalkeeper T.J. Tomasso was able to deflect over the crossbar), and much of the game was spent in front of the ORU goal. But the Eagles frustrated the SMU offense by packing nearly their entire team back on defense, and then breaking downfield on counterattacks.
Despite the one-goal margin, Hyndman said he was pleased with his team's effort.
"I thought we played well," he said. "The intensity was there, the speed was there -- we did a lot of things right. There were a lot of (scoring) chances that were very close. It was a wet field, there was a full moon.... "
The game marked the home debut for the 2003 freshmen, including Nuñez, the much-ballyhooed midfielder from Dallas' W.T. White High School, who has been labeled by some as the best recruit in the nation this year.
"He's young -- he's only 17," Hyndman said of his new playmaker. "He just sees the game so much faster than most players. Obviously, he needs to grow into the college game a bit and get used to his teammates."
Two other freshmen had significant nights: defender Mynor Gonzalez temporarily left the field after suffering what Hyndman called a hip bruise, but was able to remain in the game. And Jay Needham turned in a stellar performance at sweeper -- the last line of defense before a team's goalkeeper and a position coaches rarely turn over to a first-year player.
"Don't underestimate Jay Needham," Hyndman said. "He's an outstanding player. He's extremely composed back there, extremely solid. When (opponents) shut down our flanks (outside defenders), we want him bringing the ball forward, and that's rare with such a young player. But he's a very solid defender -- he looks really comfortable, very mature."
The Mustangs return to the field Saturday night at 7:30 when they host New Mexico in the final of the SMU/Mi Cocina Classic.
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Sophomore forward Duke Hashimoto was dragged down in the 101st minute -- the first minute of the second overtime period -- and freshman midfielder Ramon Nuñez converted the ensuing penalty kick to give the SMU men's soccer team a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Oral Roberts in the first round of the SMU/Mi Cocina Classic at SMU's Westcott Field.
Nuñez's goal ended a game that SMU head coach Schellas Hyndman said was every bit as close as he expected.
"They're a very good team, a very athletic team" Hyndman said of ORU. "They were very focused on not getting beat tonight. They played with a lot of heart and courage."
The statistics for the game would not indicate the game was close, as the Ponies registered 12 shots on goal, as opposed to the single shot on goal mustered by the Eagles (a shot that SMU goalkeeper T.J. Tomasso was able to deflect over the crossbar), and much of the game was spent in front of the ORU goal. But the Eagles frustrated the SMU offense by packing nearly their entire team back on defense, and then breaking downfield on counterattacks.
Despite the one-goal margin, Hyndman said he was pleased with his team's effort.
"I thought we played well," he said. "The intensity was there, the speed was there -- we did a lot of things right. There were a lot of (scoring) chances that were very close. It was a wet field, there was a full moon.... "
The game marked the home debut for the 2003 freshmen, including Nuñez, the much-ballyhooed midfielder from Dallas' W.T. White High School, who has been labeled by some as the best recruit in the nation this year.
"He's young -- he's only 17," Hyndman said of his new playmaker. "He just sees the game so much faster than most players. Obviously, he needs to grow into the college game a bit and get used to his teammates."
Two other freshmen had significant nights: defender Mynor Gonzalez temporarily left the field after suffering what Hyndman called a hip bruise, but was able to remain in the game. And Jay Needham turned in a stellar performance at sweeper -- the last line of defense before a team's goalkeeper and a position coaches rarely turn over to a first-year player.
"Don't underestimate Jay Needham," Hyndman said. "He's an outstanding player. He's extremely composed back there, extremely solid. When (opponents) shut down our flanks (outside defenders), we want him bringing the ball forward, and that's rare with such a young player. But he's a very solid defender -- he looks really comfortable, very mature."
The Mustangs return to the field Saturday night at 7:30 when they host New Mexico in the final of the SMU/Mi Cocina Classic.