BELTON, Texas – UT Dallas claimed its sixth American Southwest Conference Men's Soccer Championship title after defeating Concordia Texas in Penalty Kicks, 6-5, on Saturday night at the Cru Sports Plex.
The teams played to a 1-1 tie after double overtime and would go on to have penalty kicks decide the winner. After each side made a PK, UTD took the early advantage with Morgan Vaughn making after a Concordia Texas miss. In the third round, CTX's Jesse Garfias made a shot and UTD missed to level things back on the board. CTX would miss its fourth shot and UTD's Luke Deats connected to put UTD up 3-2 on the final round. CTX made its final attempt and UTD missed to force extra rounds. Each side made the next two shots before CTX missed on the eighth attempt. Aiden Currie had the heroic score that lifted No. 4 seed Comets to the 2023 ASC Men's Soccer Championship.
UT Dallas won its first title since 2019 and also has had titles in 2004, 2007, 2015, and 2016. The Comets earn the conference's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship Tournament. The 2023 NCAA DIII men's soccer selection show and bracket release
will stream live on NCAA.com at 1:00 p.m. (CT) on Monday, November 6. (
Click here for more information).
Kayson Marriott was named Most Valuable Player of the Tournament and had the tying goal for the Comets in the 74th minute on a header that was assisted by Riley O'Donnell. After a scoreless first half, Jose Aguirre put Concordia Texas ahead on a penalty kick gool in the 66th minute. The score remained the same down the stretch of regulation and through both overtime periods. The match counts as a 1-1 tie in the overall and conference tournament records for these teams.
UT Dallas Statistics
- UTD totaled 13 shots with eight shots on goal.
- Kane Kidwell and Luke Harris had three shots each with a combined five shots on goal.
- Michael Hess totaled four saves in 110 minutes.
Concordia Texas Statistics
- Aguire and Theo Givens tied for team-highs in shots with three.
- CTX took 15 shots with five shots on goal.
- Brock Hendrickson grabbed seven saves in 110 minutes.
ASC Notes
- UTD went 0-1-1 against Concordia Texas this year.
- UTD and Concordia Texas met in the 2019 Championship Round, which UTD won 1-0.
- Concordia Texas is 3-1-2 in ASC Tournament matches vs. UT Dallas. The Comets advanced on PKs in both ties.
- UTD has earned the AQ in three of its last four ASC Championships.
- UTD now sits 21-14-8 in 23 ASC Championship Tournament Appearances.
- This is the seventh ASC Championship match to go to overtime.
- The 6-5 penalty kick difference matches highest total in ASC Championship matches. UTD advanced 6-5 over UT Tyler in 2015.
All-Tournament Team
Kayson Marriott, UT Dallas – Most Valuable Player
Benny Lube, UT Dallas
Kane Kidwell, UT Dallas
Michael Hesse, UT Dallas
Yael Sanchez, Concordia Texas
Brock Hendrickson, Concordia Texas
Steven Dolan, Concordia Texas
Micah Curry, Hardin-Simmons
Maxwell Winneker, Hardin-Simmons
Alex Bethke, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Karsen Macias, Mary Hardin-Baylor