ASC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

RICHARDSON, TX (11.08.14) - The UT Dallas men's soccer team is going back to the championship game of the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament for the second time in the last three years after netting a 1-0 semifinal win over The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday afternoon at the UTD Soccer Complex.

In a game dominated statistically by the Comets (13-3-3), UTD finally got the ball in the net when sophomore Connor Crabtree scored with a high crossing shot in the 61st minute after dual passes from Omar Jaroun and Danny Meyer. 
 

Both teams had prime chances earlier in the match to get on the scoreboard. In the 23rd minute, a UMHB forward got free one-on-one behind the defense, but sent a point blank shot high over the crossbar. UTD looked like it had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 56th minute when freshman Danny Meyer was fouled in the UMHB box. Will Collins' penalty kick, however, was punched away on a diving stop by Cru keeper Blake Lander. 

The Comets dominated possession throughout and built a 20-7 shot advantage over the Cru (8-7-3), but Lander only had to make two other saves as UTD shots continually went wide, high or hit part of the netting hardware. Omar Jaroun led UTD with five shots while Crabtree took four shots. Chase Withrow and Meyer each had three.

The Comets had 10 corner kick opportunities, as well, including eight in the first 45 minutes, but could not find net.

UTD keeper Joseph Weber had to make just one save to preserve the shutout as the Comet defense kept the ball moving toward the UMHB goal most of the game.

The Comets will face the winner of a Hardin-Simmons/University of the Ozarks semifinal (set for 2 pm Saturday) in the title game Sunday afternoon at 1 pm. The Comets last played for an ASC crown in 2012, tying Mississippi College 1-1, before losing the trophy on a post-game penalty kick shootout.