August 29, 2024
Waxahachie, TX – Thursday evening, the Nelson University Lions hosted the University of Houston-Victoria Jaguars at the Lions Athletic Complex in Waxahachie, Texas, marking their first home contest of the 2024 season. The match was an intense showdown filled with physical play, strategic maneuvers, and moments of brilliance from both teams, ultimately ending in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
Scoring Summary and Key Plays
1st Half
The Lions came out with fierce determination, eager to make their mark in front of their home crowd. The early stages of the match saw Nelson University asserting dominance, with strong defensive play from Javaun Hines and Dillon Cecil Du Toit anchoring the backline. However, the breakthrough came from the offensive end in the 26th minute when Ethan Stewart, finding space in the box, latched onto a precise pass from Alex Castro. Stewart's calm finish gave the Lions a 1-0 lead, igniting the home fans.
David Calvete Beltran, the Lions' goalkeeper, played a crucial role in preserving the lead, making a key save just minutes after Stewart's goal to keep the Jaguars at bay.
2nd Half
The intensity only increased as the second half began. The Lions continued to press, with Pedro Figueiredo Mattoso and Teddy Nkamanyi testing the Jaguars' defense, but Houston-Victoria refused to back down. The match grew more physical, with yellow cards being handed out on both sides as the teams fought for control.
In the 82nd minute, the Jaguars found their equalizer. Einar Rolfsen, assisted by Baillie O'Reilly, managed to beat the Lions back line with a well-placed shot, leveling the score at 1-1. Despite several late opportunities, including a blocked shot from Mattoso and a close effort from Nkamanyi, the Lions couldn't reclaim the lead.
Next Up
The Lions will quickly turn their focus to the next challenge as they face Sterling College on August 31 (Saturday) at 6:00 PM at the Lions Athletic Complex in Waxahachie, TX. With lessons learned from this fiercely competitive match, the Lions will seek to secure a victory in front of their home supporters.
Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.
