LONGVIEW, Texas – They say everything is bigger in Texas, but that didn't hold true for the Mississippi University for Women men's soccer team when it came to goal differential on its two-match trip to the Lone Star state. For the second time in three days, the Owls (1-5-2) lost a one-goal decision, this time falling at LeTourneau University, 1-0.
 
(Last Friday, The W also dropped a 2-1 contest at East Texas Baptist University).
 
And the Owls didn't receive any favors from Mother Nature. Game-time temperatures hovered in the mid-90s in the East Texas region (and the only worse temps usually occur in West Texas). That, and a short bench for MUW Head Coach BJ Pheasant, all were contributing factors versus the Yellow Jackets (4-2-2).
 
"We dominated possession in the first half, but didn't get the goals to prove it," Pheasant said. "The blazing Texas sun got to an injury-shortened roster and we ran out of gas in the second half."
 
But in the first segment the Owls were pumping out energy - befitting of where they were playing - and making great plays at both ends of the field. Notably, in the fourth minute of play, MUW goalkeeper David McCutchen made a tremendous save to keep matters scoreless.
 
That was until the 29:18-minute juncture when the Yellow Jackets stung the MUW net-minder on a controversial goal. ETBU's Diego Enriquez delivered a ball from his own defensive third, intended for teammate Russell Gray sprinting up the middle of the field. Gray appeared to have been off sides, but no flag was raised. Ahead of any Owls' defenders, Gray settled the ball and went one-on-one toward McCutchen. McCutchen came off his line in an attempt to stop Gray, but was side-stepped, leaving ETBU with a wide-open net that made it 1-0.
 
Less than a minute later, however, MUW had injury added to insult.
 
With ETBU attacking, a loose ball was to the right of frame. McCutchen dove for the ball, unfortunately as an MUW defender and ETBU attacker converged at that exact moment. McCutchen took to brunt of the collision and could not continue in goal.
 
With no second goalie listed on the Owls' roster, Pheasant called on all-American defender Jacob Vickers to don the goalkeeper garb. Vickers, who did have some experience in the nets as a prep, is also arguably the best athlete at The W. Vickers is the MUW Athletics version of a Swiss Army Knife, playing for the men's tennis team last year and finishing as the high-point scorer for the track and field team at the USCAA championships, as well.
 
So why not add goalie to his credits? It turned out to be a pretty impressive debut for Vickers, making a pair of saves. Most importantly, Vickers had more than 60 minutes of shutout play to keep his team close and give his teammates an opportunity to level the match.
 
Quickly after the switch in goal, the Owls went on attack mode, while stifling the Jackets the balance of the half. In the 32nd minute, Joseph Cumberland sent a shot on-frame that was saved by LETU's Kolton Johnson. Then in the 44th minute, leading scorer Aussie Salgado sent a ball to the lower third that was corralled by Johnson, as well.
 
Cumberland led MUW with three shot attempts and Salgado had two. LeTourneau out-shot the Owls by an 18-10 margin for the contest, 4-2 for shots on-goal.
 
With the eyes of Texas no longer upon MUW, the Owls will next travel to Memphis to face Rhodes College on Wednesday (Sept. 29/4 p.m.).