After a grueling 1-1 match in San Angelo that went into double overtime against Howard Payne on Friday September 8th, HT had it’s work cut out for them as they returned home late that night and hit the road again the following afternoon to Temple, to complete the two-day road trip.
H T managed to muster up enough intestinal fortitude to battle University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The impeccable facilities were a great help. Fatigue would be an issue, but heart, drive and determination appeared to be the key. Coach Lassiter has been very adamant about his team's lockerroom slogan, "only the strong survive.” HT was very disciplined and tight in the middle of the field under the veteran leadership of Diego Flores and Thabo Romagogane. HT managed to keep UMHB to minimal shot production in the first half. The game would take a sudden turn for the worst as HT's freshman Frank Toscano would be shown his 2nd yellow card which would leave HT a man down for the remainder of the match. As substitutions were made Jorge Flores and Tinashe Kupenga-Maposa would provide the instant spark that the Rams needed. A couple of combinations would stun UMHB as Kupenga-Maposa netted his first goal of the season to take a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, the Rams would not let up the pressure. Determined to overcome the many hurdles that they were up against in this match, another golden opportunity was created as freshman Abraham Bernal served a nice driven ball into the near post. Junior Diego Flores pounced on it for his second goal of the season to make the score 2-0 with 27 minutes remaining. HT began to look unconquerable as their organization and zeal frustrated the UMHB attack. However, the inevitable would eventually prevail and UMHB was awarded a penalty kick, and Junior Mickey Kerr drww the Crew within one.
Under intense attack from UMHB, Gabe Gibbons a UMHB transfer would stand tall in spite of an onslaught of opportunities from the UMHB attack. However, with three minutes remaining, a fatal error would be costly as Gibbons gave up a rebound within the six yard box and sophomore Randell Price would net the equalizer. Emotions and adrenaline were very high at the conclusion of regulation as the Rams would go into there 2nd overtime this weekend.
After a spirited exchange with Lassiter, the Rams responded in a way befitting of a team that would not be denied. An errant pass from UMHB’s back line allowed Junior Mario Orosco to find first-year player Abraham Bernal slashing through UMHB’s defense. He unleashed an incredible bomb from 25 yards out that would leave UMHB’s goal keeper paralyzed, and provide Bernal with his very first and the team’s first game winning goal of the season. Freshman Abraham Bernal is HT's candidate for player of the week. The Rams win 3-2 in golden goal over-time.
Coach Lassiter described the game-winner as “an absolute masterpiece finish." "It was fantastic to see how hard the Rams fought to play almost 60 minutes with ten men, be up 2-0 with 25 minutes left, relenquish the lead, and come back to take three points on the road and finish a tough weekend schedule with two overtime games."
This win puts HT at it's first 3-0-1 start in a couple of years. Concordia is waiting in the wings on Tuesday at St. Francis Soccer field at 5pm.