COLUMBUS, Miss. – For the first time in five meetings in its program history, the Mississippi University for Women men's soccer team scored a win versus regional-rival LaGrange College, 2-1, at the Roger Short Soccer Complex. The Owls (3-7-5) are unbeaten in their last three matches, as well as losing just once in their last seven outings.
 
The W out-shot the Panthers (4-7-0) by a 15-10 margin and were 9-7 to the good in shots-on-goal.
 
MUW senior goalkeeper David McCutchen got the start versus LaGrange and was sterling in the nets. McCutchen registered six saves. The only goal he permitted was on a penalty kick just 2:41 minutes into the second half that knotted the match at 1-1.
 
In the first segment, the two teams were scoreless through the first 32 minutes. However, in the 33rd minute, Cristian Canas received a pair of deft passes from teammates DJ McElroy and Luis Morales on the double assist and tallied his fourth goal of the season from 12 yards in front, that made it 1-0 at the time and tied him with Mo Diallo for the team lead…at least for the moment.
 
That's because, in the 64th minute, Diallo would net his fifth goal of 2023, which proved to be the match winner. Tre Ray sent a perfect pass through the right side to a streaking Diallo, who took a few dribbles before going far post past LC's Daniel Bojcic to make it 2-1.
 
The Owls will next return to St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Thursday (Oct. 19/1:30 p.m.) at Lyon College in Batesville, Ark.