ENMU men get win on home pitch

Freedom New Mexico

Eastern New Mexico University men’s soccer coach Carlos Elizondo was sure he wanted his team going with the wind in the first half on Sunday against Missouri Southern.

The move paid off with three goals, two by freshman forward Edgar Bear, and the Greyhounds cruised to a 4-0 Southwest Soccer Conference win over the Lions at the ENMU pitch.

The win boosted the Hounds (7-8-1, 2-4-1 SSC) into third place in the five-team league and established a school record for wins in a season. ENMU, which went 5-3-1 at home this fall, wraps up its campaign with a non-league clash at UT-Permian Basin on Sunday and an SSC tilt at Midwestern State on Nov. 2.

By jumping on top early, the Hounds virtually assured themselves a win. The Lions (3-9-2, 0-5-1) have scored just nine goals all season, including one in league play.

“Through experience, we’ve learned that,” Elizondo said of taking the wind. “It’s been a big factor in most of our games here this year. We knew we wanted to go out and put pressure on them.

“It’s been a long season for (Missouri Southern). Our overall stats are better than theirs, but we’ve been on that end of it.”

Bear scored off an assist from Jared Morris in the 16th minute. Then another freshman, Dreaux Plair, fired a shot that hit the crossbar and bounded in for a 2-0 lead before Bear got his second goal at the 27:32 mark.

The Hounds got only one shot on goal in the second half, but senior Donnell Jackson’s attempt from the left side found the net with about 25 minutes left.

Six seniors were honored before the match — Jackson, Ryan Atkinson, Leif Craddock, Babila Nketi, Andrew Perez and Keith Vargas. Craddock made six saves in goal for his third shutout of the season.

“It was senior day and they wanted to go out and play well,” Elizondo said. “We did some good things (in Friday’s 2-2 tie) against Northeastern (State), and we continued to do those things today.”

ENMU Summary

Sunday

Southwest Soccer Conference

ENMU 4, Missouri Southern 0

Missouri Southern 0 0 — 0

ENMU 3 1 — 4

Scoring summary

First half

ENM — Edgar Bear (Jared Morris), 15:21

ENM — Dreaux Plair, 20:51

ENM — Bear, 27:32

Second half

ENM — Donnell Jackson (Cesareo Contreras), 64:43

Shots on goal — Missouri Southern 6, Eastern New Mexico 9. Saves — Missouri Southern 5 (Jon Hansen 5), Eastern New Mexico 6 (Leif Craddock 6). Corner kicks — Missouri Southern 1, Eastern New Mexico 5. Red cards — Missouri Southern 1 (Tony Simmons), Eastern New Mexico 1 (Andrew Perez). Yellow cards — Missouri Southern 2 (Eddie Mulholland, Brett Kohler), Eastern New Mexico 3 (Derek Bravo, Morris, Jackson). Records — Missouri Southern 3-9-2 (0-5-1), Eastern New Mexico 7-8-1 (2-4-1). A — 80.