GEORGETOWN, TEXAS - Southwestern University Men's Soccer concluded the non-conference slate with a scoreless draw against University of California - Santa Cruz on Sunday afternoon. Despite the draw, 2025 has marked the best start in school history at 8-0-2. The last non-conference loss was in 2022 as the Pirates are 19-0-8 in three years to start the season. 

"We learned a lot about ourselves," said Head Coach Dustin Norman regarding the first half of the season. "A lot of new faces were incorporated and just starting to become familiar with one another on the field. The squad has had a lot of different players score and contribute in a myriad of ways that emphasizes the depth of the team. We have to stay humble while embracing the opportunity ahead of us. The best part is knowing we have another level to our play that is attainable if we continue to stay focused." 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

• Southwestern and UCSC matched up for the sixth time in school history at 1-4-1. 
• Junior Colin Otten stepped into the back line and pivotal set piece target after junior standout Cooper Pero received a red card on Thursday night. 
• Senior Raghav Sharma remained the focal point on set pieces creating multiple close chances with three shots in 86 minutes. 
• Freshman Grey Richards laid a perfectly timed flick into sophomore Daniel Sartorio who missed the mark by inches wide for the best chance of the half. 
• In the second half, senior Greyson Pinto volleyed a shot over the keeper that barely flew over the crossbar. 
• The chances continued as Richards fired a shot near post as the UCSC keeper made an acrobatic save. 
• At the end of the half, UCSC created chances as senior Scott Johnson made a diving save to conclude the 0-0 draw. 

MATCH NOTES

• Johnson recorded his sixth clean sheet of the season with a monstrous 53 saves, which leads the SAA. 
• The senior ranks sixth in the nation in save percentage at .930. 
• The Pirates have surrendered only four goals in ten matches this season. 

UP NEXT
Southwestern hits the road next weekend in Georgia as they battle Berry College on Friday and Oglethorpe University on Sunday. Stay tuned with us for updates.