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Hounds score in second OT to nip Rattlers

SAN ANTONIO — Senior defender Michael James forced overtime on a goal with three seconds left in regulation and senior forward Mario Alarcon scored midway thorugh the second sudden-death overtime Saturday, giving Eastern New Mexico University a 3-2 non-league men’s soccer victory over St. Mary’s.

With the win, the Greyhounds (11-5-2) added to their own school record for victories in a season while improving to 6-3-2 on the road. They close out the campaign on Friday with a Lone Star Conference match at Northeastern State.

It was the fourth consecutive match in the series decided by one goal, the last two of which have been won by the Hounds.

ENMU, which overcame an own-goal early in the match, never led the Rattlers (5-10-1) until Alarcon’s winning goal, a shot he lofted over Rattlers goalkeeper Brett Collier after dribbling into the penalty area. It was his second goal of the season.

James scored his third goal of the season, dribbling in from the far corner after a corner kick with 14 seconds left in regulation by the Hounds’ Mychael Contrerras. James found the far corner of the net past Collier.

The Rattlers got on the board with just over 3 1/2 minutes gone in the opening half when a St. Mary’s throw-in bounced off the head of an ENMU defender and into the goal. The Hounds tied it just over four minutes into the second half when junior forward Emerson Rodrigues converted his 13th goal of the season, and eighth in the last seven matches.

The Rattlers regained the lead with about 20 minutes left in reguation when Robson Pritchett tallied his fourth goal of the season.

ENMU had a 15-7 edge in total shots, including 7-3 in shots on goal. The Hounds also posted a 9-5 margin in corner kicks.

 
 
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