ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University men's soccer got an overtime goal from freshman Zack Smith and – in the process – notched the team's first victory of the 2015 season, a 3-2 win over visiting Louisiana College at Wilford Moore Stadium.
 
For McM head coach Chris LeFevre, it was satisfying to see his young team begin to gel and see their work come to fruition. That was especially true after his team faced a 1-0 deficit after the first period and then had the Wildcats tie the contest to force the overtime.
 
"I think we sent the message that (the circumstances) didn't matter," LeFevre said.  "We said 'we are confident' by the way we played. We stayed on task. The mentality of the group was one of commitment to each other and the game plan. I believe that's why they were rewarded with the win."
 
Louisiana College tallied in the 15th minute and made it stand up through the break. In period two, Kyle Riese netted a goal off a corner kick served up by Jeronimo Aguilar, tying the match at 1-1 in the 57th minute.
 
Just six minutes later, McM senior Michael von Ende-Becker put in his first goal of 2015 with the assist going to Martin Ornelas. That put the War Hawks ahead, 2-1.  However, the Wildcats would knot matters at 2-2 in the 70th minute and, when neither team was able to breach the goal, McMurry was headed to its first overtime of the year.
 
Less than two minutes into the extra stanza, McMurry had a corner kick from the right of the goal. Joshua Erwin was able to try a header that was saved by LC's Nathan Gautreaux. A scrum ensued in front of the goal and it was Smith finding the ball and driving it in the back of the net to but McM's first "W" of the year in the books.
 
LeFevre was especially happy for Smith, who he said struggled in Friday's loss to Belhaven. 
 
"Zack didn't have his strongest performance (on Friday)," LeFevre explained.  "Today he changed the game with his work rate and speed. It was an awesome individual response from him, one game to the next."