Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS  Methodist University men's soccer team began its 2024 season in the Lone Star state as the Monarchs played the Pirates of Southwestern University, on the campus of Trinity University. This non-conference matchup saw Methodist get on the scoreboard first but then Southwestern came back and recorded the next two goals to claim a 2-1 victory.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Southwestern def. Methodist, 2-1
Records: Methodist 0-1; Southwestern 1-0
Location: McGinlay Field; San Antonio, Texas

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A Pirates turnover in the midfield led to the opening goal, which was scored by Steven Floyd, of the Monarchs, in the 20^th minute. A careless pass was intercepted by a Methodist defender before it was passed off to Josh Mott. A quick pivot by Mott put some distance between him and the two Southwestern players that were on him. Mott then sent a through ball to Floyd, who got past the Pirates backline and then beat the keeper to his left.
• As halftime was nearing, Southwestern was able to score the equalizer in the 43^rd minute. A flurry of Pirate shots were either blocked or stopped by Monarch starting goalie Matthew Walker. On one of the last stops by Walker, he was unable to corral the ball and that led to Danny Wasserman of Southwestern to take advantage of the open net.
• The decisive goal for the Pirates came inside the 68^th minute, off a set piece. A Methodist foul just outside the top of the box setup a Southwestern free kick from about 20 yards out. Michael Grimm of the Pirates took the kick and knocked the ball into the upper left corner of the net.

NUMBERS

• Ball possession was fairly even between both squads, but it was Southwestern that generated more offense off those possessions. The Pirates fired off 22 total shots, with seven being on target, while the Monarchs took eight shots, three on net.
• This was a very physical match as a total of 33 fouls (SU – 16; MU – 17) and eight card (seven yellows and one red) were issued.
• Methodist goalkeepers' Trey Gohr, the 2023 USA South Goalkeeper of the Year, and Walker, a 2022 USA South Second Team All-Conference pick, each played 45 minutes in net, with Walker starting followed by Gohr in the second half.

NEXT UP
Methodist will have a day in between before its next game on Sunday, September 1, against Trinity. The match is scheduled to begin at 8 PM central daylight time.