SHERMAN, Texas – Austin College raced out to a 3-0 halftime lead and held off a furious comeback bid by Southwestern, as the No. 5-seeded 'Roos topped the No. 4-seeded Pirates 3-2 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference quarterfinal round on Friday in Sherman. The 'Roos are now 10-8-2 overall this season and advance to play No. 1-seed Trinity tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.
Phillip Le, the conference's leading scorer, added to his season tally with a goal just a minute into the game. Le collected a rebound off a shot by Jack Wheaton and punched it in to make it a 1-0 game. Le would add his 14th goal of the year in the 22nd minute of action on a penalty kick to put the 'Roos on top 2-0.
Austin College wasn't done yet in the first half, as Juan Ramirez ripped a 25-yard shot just inside the left post to make it a 3-0 game at the 34:05 mark of the first half. That would remain the score heading into halftime.
Southwestern came out strong offensively to open the second half and got on the board in the 50th minute of action, as Rory McCullough's free kick from 20 yards out hit the back of the net in the top right corner to cut it to a 3-1 game. The Pirates would score again in the 63rd minute when Christian Lopez's shot along the endline ricocheted off of Austin College keeper Joe Khalaf's glove and into the net to make it 3-2.
However, that's as close as things would get as Austin College tightened its defense down the stretch to walk away with the victory. Southwestern owned a 22-16 edge in shot attempts in the match, and Khalaf finished the game with three saves for the 'Roos.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.