August 23, 2025
Waxahachie, TX – The Nelson University Lions men's soccer team kicked off their 2025 campaign in front of a packed and energized home crowd at the Lions Athletic Complex, sending fans home happy with a thrilling 2–0 win over the Arlington Baptist University Patriots on Saturday night.
After a summer of anticipation, the Lions echoed early and often as the squad delivered a strong statement that this season is about composure and finishing touches.
Lions Review
From the opening whistle, Nelson controlled possession and dictated the pace, carving out chance after chance. The breakthrough came in the 27th minute, when Makel Mitchell buried the season's first goal after a clever setup from Joel Palmer that had the home crowd erupting.
Despite holding a 1–0 lead at the break, the Lions refused to settle. They continued pressing in the second half, piling up shots and keeping Arlington Baptist's backline under pressure. The Patriots' keeper tallied three saves on the night, but it wasn't enough to halt Nelson's relentless attack.
With the clock winding down, the Lions put the exclamation point on the victory. In the 90th minute, Ricardo Lozano slipped free and coolly slotted home Nelson's second goal, sealing the win and sending the home faithful into celebration mode.
Defensively, the Lions were equally impressive, conceding just four total shots and only one on frame. Nelson's backline and midfield work rate frustrated Arlington throughout the evening
Key Stats
The match carried plenty of intensity as both sides battled physically, each finishing with 12 fouls. In the end, Nelson's attacking edge was clear, outshooting Arlington 13–4 with a 5–1 advantage in shots on goal.
Next Up
The Lions will look to keep their momentum rolling when they return to the Lions Athletic Complex on Saturday, August 30 at 5:00 PM to face Texas A&M–Texarkana.
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-NELSON.
