ABILENE, Texas – Bragging rights will not be the only thing at stake for the McMurry University men's soccer team on Friday, as the War Hawks end the regular season at cross-town rival Hardin-Simmons at 7:30 p.m. in North Abilene.
Following a dramatic win last Saturday over Mary Hardin-Baylor, McMurry kept its postseason American Southwest Conference tournament hopes alive. A win on Friday and a loss by Belhaven will allow McMurry to sneak in the tournament as the final seed.
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WHAT'S THE SCENARIO: With 10 points and a 3-6-1 conference record, McMurry is currently the first team out in the standings and trails Belhaven for the eighth and final tournament seed heading into the final game. If the War Hawks defeat Hardin-Simmons and Belhaven (4-5-1, 13 points) loses to Louisiana College, McMurry will enter the tournament. A Belhaven win or a McM loss ends McMurry's season.
LAST WEEK: After another close loss on Thursday against ASC leader Concordia, 1-0, McMurry bounced back in a huge way by snapping a seven-game winless skid and knocking off Mary Hardin-Baylor, 2-1, on Senior Night last Saturday. The win kept McMurry's chances at an ASC tournament bid alive.
NOT THE FIRST TIME: McMurry now owns two straight home wins against UMHB, knocking off the No. 21 Crusaders in 2017 with a 1-0 shutout while repeating history in 2019 with a 2-1 win. UMHB's last win over McMurry in Abilene was in the 2015 season.
TIGHT GAMES: In five of the last six losses, McMurry has only been edged by one goal in a defensive struggle. On Saturday, the War Hawks remedied that with its one goal victory over UMHB.
ONLY ONE OCTOBER: Eight of McMurry's 16 games have finished in a one-goal margin or a tie, including seven such games in the month of October alone.
AMONG THE ASC LEADERS: Senior striker Miguel Esteban Jr. currently ranks second in the ASC with 10 goals this season, including two last week against UMHB. Esteban Jr. is also tied for third in the conference with 21 points.
SERIES HISTORY VS. HSU: Recent history favors the War Hawks in this rivalry, as McMurry has won the last two contests in 1-0 shutouts. Since McMurry began its program in 2001, HSU owns the head-to-head with a 15-4-2 record.
SCOUTING HSU: The Cowboys are 13-3-1 on the season, but own a 6-3-1 record in ASC play. Opening on a 10 game win streak, HSU owns losses only to LeTourneau, UT Dallas and Mary Hardin-Baylor.
The defensive-minded Cowboys are led between the pipes by junior Trent Ivy, who ranks atop the conference in goals against average (0.64) and save percentage (.840) with starts in the last five games. Freddy Hernandez leads the offense with six goals and three assists for 15 points.
