Box Score RICHARDSON, TX (09.01.10) - The UT Dallas men's soccer team dominated Texas Wesleyan in their 2010 season opener Wednesday night in all but one category - putting the ball in the net. But Head Coach Jack Peel certainly couldn't have had much to complain about after his Comets held a clear advantage in almost every category on their way to a 2-1 win.

The Comets offense controlled possession and put 10 of their 20 shots on net, narrowly missing on several other opportunities to put the match out of reach. Defensively, UTD continually frustrated the rare counter-attacks of the NAIA Rams, allowing just six shots all night and only having to make a couple of saves.

Were it not for a late goal surrendered on a penalty kick in a foul-plagued game, the evening might have been as perfect as a season-opener could be for the Comets.

TWU (0-1), which had just six shots all night and forced two saves by new Comet keeper Bailey Williams on a single rush late in the second half, finally avoided the shutout when an attacking player was knocked down inside the box and Rafael Franco pushed a penalty kick past relief keeper Collin Curtis for the Rams' only score.

UTD (1-0) meanwhile got on the board once in each half, and probably should have had more after posting a 20-shot night with 10 on goal. Brian Shiba, a sophomore from Houston Cy-Fair, found a loose ball off the foot of senior Billie Dixon in close at the 8:44 mark of the match to give the Comets an early 1-0 lead.

UTD added to that lead with a second goal early in the second period. Senior Michael Anyirah finished off a fast break on a feed from Michael Darrow to make it 2-0 UTD with 39:13 left in regulation. The Comets sailed until TWU got on the board with 2:19 remaining, but hung on in the final minutes.

Wesleyan was tagged with 11 fouls, and picked up five yellow cards, two by Cameron Stapleton, who had to sit the final 18:28 and forced his team to play shorthanded. UTD held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.

The Comets return to action twice this weekend, hosting the University of Puget Sound (WA) Friday night and Austin College on Saturday.

BOXSCORE