GEORGETOWN, TEXAS - Southwestern University Men's Soccer set the tone early with two goals from
Grey Richards in the first five minutes to secure the SAA win over Millsaps on Friday night, 2-1. The Pirates continue to be elite with six straight SAA wins and 14 games straight with a loss. Southwestern improves to 14-1-1 overall and 6-0-1 in conference.
The win keeps the Pirates in the drivers seat for the regular season title with one remaining game against Rhodes College on Sunday. Trinity University and Rhodes were rescheduled to Saturday at 1:30 p.m. due to rain. Moreover, Southwestern currently has 19 points, while Trinity and Rhodes trail with 14. Therefore, if Rhodes and Trinity tie tomorrow, Southwestern will become the regular season champs. Moreover, Trinity wins, Southwestern will likely need to win on Sunday as Trinity owns the tiebreaker. If Rhodes wins against Trinity, Southwestern will need to win or tie on Sunday.
Millsaps entered Friday with seven points, looking to find a way to the conference tournament as they played with aggression and urgency. Southwestern had different plans as
Daniel Sartorio set up Richards for a goal in the third minute. The goal was an incredible display of hustle by Sartorio who picked off the Majors goalie and dished to Richards. The sophomore striker wasn't finished. One minute later,
Ross Anderson set a perfect set piece from half field to Richards who rose above the goalie and buried his tenth goal of the season.
However, Millsaps refused to back down early with a goal in the tenth minute for only the eighth goal surrendered by the Pirates this season. A monumental moment happened in the 18th minute as a Majors player committed a red card, forcing the Majors play with ten men for 72 minutes. Three additional yellow cards ensued throughout the game with only one on the Pirates. Southwestern gave the Majors no room to operate for the rest of the game, earning another gritty one goal victory.
GAME NOTES
- Southwestern has won all six conference games by one goal, unafraid to play their game.
- The squad is now 9-0 in games decided by one goal, proving discipline and mature presence is key.
- Southwestern very rarely makes mental mistakes.
- Richards notches his tenth goal of the year with five in the SAA.
- The sophomore has been arguably the best striker in the league with a knack for the big moment.
- Richards owns the lead in goals in the SAA.
- Sartorio collects his fourth assist.
- Anderson now has nine assists on the season with 15 for his career.
UP NEXT
Southwestern hosts Rhodes College on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. for the regular season finale. The Pirates will celebrate senior day prior to the game for
Cooper Pero,
Landon Guenther, and
Nico Colegrove.
