RICHARDSON, TX (09.23.21) – A flurry of first-half goals propelled the UT Dallas men's soccer team to a 3-0 win over Sul Ross State in the opening American Southwest Conference game for both teams Thursday night.
 
The ASC rivals both came into the spirited match on a roll with the Comets (now 5-2-1 overall, 1-0 ASC) having lost just once in their last five matches, and the Lobos (3-2, 0-1 ASC) winning three of their first four.
 
UTD took advantage of some over-aggressive defending by SRSU in the first 45 minutes, scoring its first goal off a free kick just outside the box, and another on a penalty kick just before halftime. In between, UTD used some skilled footwork to punch in three other goals.
 
Following a yellow card tackle by the Lobos 24:58 into the game, second-year freshman Kane Kidwell bent in a perfect penalty kick from just outside the far corner of the box to give UTD a 1-0 lead.
 
A stolen ball in the midfield then led the UTD's second goal as true freshman Riley O'Donnell punched in a pass from Alejandro Suarez to make it 2-0 in the 33^rd minute. Following another hard tackle – this time inside the penalty area – senior Brandon Bohn tacked on a penalty kick goal six minutes before intermission to give the Comets a 3-0 advantage.
 
UTD added two more goals in the second half. A long pass from Jardel Kuate ended up in in a goal from Benny Lube, assisted by Nahome Abraham, at the 67:00 mark. Abraham then snagged a midfield pass midair and raced in to punch in the Comets' fifth goal unassisted in the 76^th minute.
 
The Comets had a 20-7 shot advantage, putting 10 shots on net. Sul Ross managed just seven shots and UTD keeper Trey Nickel and Eric LaWare each made a save in a half of work. Kane, O'Donnell and Bohn accounted for 10 of UTD's shots. 
 
UTD returns to conference action on Saturday at 7:30 pm against Howard Payne (6-2 overall), a 2-0 winner over Ozarks in its ASC opener Thursday.