Belton, TX – Schreiner University scored a quick first half goal and the Mountaineers would add a pair of second-half goals for insurance and Schreiner eliminated Howard Payne with a 3-0 victory over the Yellow Jackets in the opening match of the American Southwest Conference Men's Soccer Championship Tournament Friday in Belton. Schreiner improves to 9-6-3 on the season with the victory. The loss ends the Yellow Jackets season at 9-8-1.
The Mountaineers took a 1-0 lead when Tanner Overstake drilled home a shot from nearly 40 yards out at the 19:54 mark of the match. It would stay that way into the second half before Adam Harvey scored off an assist from Phillip Anderson at the 48:46 mark to stretch it to 2-0 Schreiner. Harvey would add an unassisted goal 68:00 into the match to provide the final margin.
Matt Johnson posted five saves in goal and recorded the shutout for the Mountaineers. Francisco Medina had a pair of saves in goal for Howard Payne. Both teams took 12 shots in the match and put five of them on goal. Both teams also played much of the second half one player short. HPU's Jaime Benitez was red carded at the 56:48 mark and Schreiner's Stephen Gonzalez was red carded less than six minutes later.
Schreiner will now advance to face top seed and tournament host Mary Hardin-Baylor in an 11:00 AM semifinal tomorrow. The Cru edged the Mountaineers 1-0 in double overtime in the regular season meeting between the two teams in Kerrville back in September. Howard Payne was making its first appearance in the ASC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament.
