ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University men's soccer dropped its home opener, 5-2, in a non-conference bout versus Florida National University a Wilford Moore Stadium. But it proved to be a tale of two halves between the War Hawks (0-1-1) and the Conquistadors (3-1).
 
In the opening 45 minutes, FNU put up four goals on McM. The Conquistadors' windfall was aided by a pair of penalty kick goals in the 9^th and 30^th minutes of play. FNU's Pedro Veiga followed each of the PK's with goals in the 23^rd and 35^th minutes to give the visitors the 4-0 halftime cushion.
 
"We didn't play so well the first half," McM Head Coach Tyler Tarango reflected. "But second half we turned it on; we dominated. It was a great stepping stone to go forward, leading us into conference.
 
"I'm really proud of the guys' overall effort and their movement, and the spacing between everybody. We have to take what we learned today, take the building blocks, and continue to move forward."
 
Tarango had every reason to be optimistic after his team's effort in the final 45 minutes. After being out-shot in the first half by a 14-2 margin, the War Hawks turned the tables on FNU in the second, 7-6. McM also had four second-half corner kicks to just one by the Conquistadors.
 
McMurry's second half scores came less than two minutes apart.  Less than four minutes into the second stanza – at the 48:32 mark – McMurry finally got on the board on a header from Aaron Webb, on a perfect cross pass from Jesus Sanchez to make it 4-1.
 
Just over a minute later, McM struck again. This time it was senior Josh Erwin notching his first goal of 2018, putting a shot into the upper left corner of the goal, with Sanchez assisting once again at the 49:52 mark.
 
FNU added its final tally in the 68^th minute for the 5-2 final score.
 
Francisco Avilez played the first half for the War Hawks and had for saves, while being charged with four goals. Sophomore Aiden Keane had four second-half saves and was charged with one goal. Two FNU goalies combined for six saves.
 
Sophomore Jordan Sczech had all three of his shots go directly on-goal to lead McM. Erwin put both of his attempts on-goal, as well. Webb, Sanchez and Jorge Garcia each tested the Conquistadors' net-minders once apiece.
 
McMurry will next be in action on Wednesday (Sept. 5) at home in a no-conference tilt with the University of the Southwest. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m., after the women's contest with USW at 5 p.m.