COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The No. 24 ranked University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's soccer team continues their strong start to the season with a 2-1 victory Thursday evening over the University of Texas at Tyler.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: UCCS 2, UT-Tyler 1
Records: UCCS (2-0-1, 0-0-0 RMAC), UT-Tyler (1-1-1, 0-0-0 LSC)
Facility: Mountain Lion Stadium | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: Thursday evening's matchup against the Patriots was the first in UCCS program history.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• The first score of Thursday night's matchup came in the 10^th minute of play with senior midfielder Dani Barajas sending the ball past the UT-Tyler goalkeeper off the assist of junior forward Miles Seminario.
• After the opening goal, both teams struggled to find the back of the net. The Mountain Lions dominated possession in the first half with 12 shots, including three from both freshman defensemen Dillon Clarke and junior forward Nick Walker, to the Patriots' four. Junior goalkeeper Soren Russell's only save came in the first half with a shot on goal by UT-Tyler's Jose Ramos.
• The Mountain Lions' one-goal lead lasted long into the second period until a penalty kick goal from junior forward Cole Venable in the 84^th minute of action as he sent it into the left side of the net.
• The Mountain Lions' two-score lead did not last long as UT-Tyler's first and only goal was scored just four minutes later with 2:30 left in the game on a free kick into a tight window in the top left corner created by Russell.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME
 

• Thursday evening's matchup was a lopsided event as the Mountain Lions outshot the Patriots 18 to seven with six shots on goal to UT-Tyler's two. UCCS also led the way in corner kicks, logging eight with five in the first half. 
• Barajas and Venable were the only Mountain Lions who recorded goals as Barajas scored his first of the season and Venable with his second on his first penalty kick. Ten other UCCS players took shots as well, as both Walker and Clarke had three.
• Clarke, Adin Schwenke, and Rory Scott each played the full 90 minutes on the pitch during Thursday's match. 
• Russell also logged the entire 90 minutes with one save and one goal surrendered on just two shots on frame.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
 

• UCCS moves to 1-0 all-time against UT-Tyler after their Thursday evening victory.
• Cole Venable's goal in the 84^th minute was the first penalty kick goal of his UCCS career.
• UCCS is now 3-for-3 on penalty kicks in their first three matches of the season after Venable's goal.

 
UP NEXT
 

• The Mountain Lions continue their two-game homestand on Saturday, Sept. 14 against Dallas Baptist University with kickoff scheduled for 11 a.m. at Mountain Lion Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.

 
SOCIAL
Twitter - @GoMountainLions
Instagram - @gomountainlions 
Facebook – Go Mountain Lions
 
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics. 


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