Box Score RICHARDSON, TX (10.14.10) - Just two weeks ago, the UTD men's soccer team was sitting alone atop the American Southwest Conference standings. But after scoring just one goal in its last three games, the Comets suddenly find themselves in a fight for survival in the conference's post-season race.

UTD, now 8-4-2 overall and 5-2-2 in the ASC, was held scoreless for the third time in its last four games Thursday night, and missed out on that much-needed sixth victory - this time falling 1-0 to previously winless East Texas Baptist.

The loss dropped the Comets into third place in the conference standings, but more desperately put UTD into a quagmire of seven teams in the league with five wins heading into the stretch run. The problem for the Comets is that they have just four ASC games left on their schedule to stay in one of the league's top six positions necessary to advance to the conference's post-season Championship Tournament. The other six teams in that mix still have five chances.

The Comets are hoping to avoid a similar late-season swoon to last year, when they finished 3-5 in their last eight games and missed the post-season for the first time in team history.

Thursday night at home, the Comets had hopes of turning things around against an ETBU team that had lost its first nine games this season. Instead, it was UTD that was left still looking for answers.

After an uneventful first half where both teams mustered just one shot on goal each, it was the guest Tigers (now 1-9, 1-7 ASC) that showed a post-half spark when Pete Fitzsimmons split four UTD defenders and tallied in the 47th minute to provide ETBU, which had scored just eight goals all season, what proved to be game-winner.

The Comets, who have been playing without leading scorer Michael Darrow (injured) the last few games, ended the night with a 10-7 shot advantage, but had just four shots on goal and seemingly came close to scoring only a couple of times.

The Comets return to action and need a rebound Saturday when they host LeTourneau in a crucial ASC match at 3 pm on the UTD Soccer Field.. LETU is one of those other seven five-win teams the Comets desperately need a win against to stay in the upper tier of the conference standings.

BOX SCORE