AC 2 - Univ. of Dallas 1

Well, the season got here in a hurry after what was a very productive preseason. The guys came in well conditioned and ready to go. We opened up the 2010 campaign with a road trip down the way to the University of Dallas. Always a tough opponent, we knew we would have our hands full as we got the season underway.

This years team is a veteran team that has high expectations as to what we are capable of. They expect to win...every match. This is a great mindset to have, but it can also be detrimental if we put too much pressure on ourselves. This was the case as we opened the first half of play very shaky. The desire was there, but the execution was not. Despite getting chances, we never really controlled the run of play. As very poor mistake and lack of communication led to us conceding the first goal of the season. With only two shots by UD in the first half, one of them being a goal, are not the odds we expect.

We regrouped at the break and came out with a bit more of a relaxed focus. It showed was things settled and we began to play our game more consistently. Just over 10 minutes into the second half, senior midfielder Jason Replogle(Denton, TX), let loose a canon from 20 yards out that the goalkeeper couldn't hold and fellow senor Jason Campbell (Kingston, Jamaica) finished for the first goal of the season.

A slight change in the system of play and the goal gave us the boost we needed. Just over two minutes from Jason's goal, junior forward Chris Melton (Sherman, TX) took a pass from Chris Stein (Allen, TX) at the top of the box, turned on his defender and hit a near post shot that the keeper never touched. 2-1 AC. A great finish from Chris who, despite missing the spring due to injury, has carried over his goal scoring ways from 2009.

The team would fight through some close chances by both sides, with Austin College's best chance to put the game away coming when freshman midfield Joey Alcocer(Galveston, TX) rocketed a one-time shot off the crossbar for what would have been his first career goal as a Roo. That goal will come soon.

The game would finish 2-1 and we would take away many things we can improve on, but we do it with a mark in the win column.

We now travel to play the University of Texas-Dallas on Saturday night with the game time set for 7:00pm. We then close out the weekend hosting the University of Puget Sound for our home opener on Sunday. Game time is set for 5:00pm.

More to come as things settle in for the season. Spread the word about the blog as well as the twitter feed. I hope to add many more followers for the season.

Go ROO's!