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Men's Soccer Advances to SCAC Semis in Penalty Shootout

(Anthony Mazur/AM News Net)
(Anthony Mazur/AM News Net)

IRVING, Texas - It took more than 110 minutes of action but the Austin College men's soccer team advanced to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference semifinals, drawing with Texas Lutheran 0-0 before winning a penalty shootout 5-4. The 'Roos are now 8-6-5 overall this season and will take on top-seeded Trinity on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.

The shots came fast and furious from the start in the third meeting of the year between the 'Roos and the Bulldogs, with each team finding plenty of chances to get on the scoreboard but being consistently denied. Austin College keeper Joseph Khalaf and TLU keeper Brendan Soto both had huge games in goal, combining for 25 saves, and each defense managed to thwart some outstanding chances on goal.

After finishing the game's second overtime without any score, the teams went to a penalty shootout to determine who would move on to tomorrow's semifinal. Austin College took a 2-1 lead but a save by Soto enabled the Bulldogs to pull even, and with TLU leading 4-3 in the fifth round, Juan Ramirez's attempt was good to force a sixth round with the score knotted 4-4. Texas Lutheran's Augustin Cueva's shot went wide, and Chris Abad-Jacobi stepped up and scored the decisive penalty kick to move the 'Roos forward in the tournament.

Austin College held a slight 27-26 edge in shots, with Khalaf making 13 saves while Soto had 12.