By Alan Wiederhold-Sohn
HT Athletic Communications
GEORGETOWN, Texas – Huston-Tillotson University's
Albright Wesley Suh needed only 47 minutes of field time to complete a hat-trick performance in leading the Rams to a 3-1 victory over visiting Southwest (N.M.).
At the Georgetown Soccer Association Complex, the Cameroon national scored his first two goals in a span of 85 seconds midway through the first half, and then snuffed the Mustangs' furious second-half comeback effort by completing the hat trick in the 88th minute.
HT's win and crucial three points pulled the Rams (3-3-2, 2-3-1 RRAC) into the top eight spots on the Red River Athletic Conference table as they aim for a return to the postseason conference tournament. Head coach
Aaron Yancy's squad were denied their full complement of points after only playing one match this week due to clerical error and circumstances outside of HT's control.
Three different HT teammates assisted on Suh's three goals Saturday.
Jose Camarena's long forward pass from the backfield was misplayed by Southwest's goalkeeper and bounced to Suh in the penalty area, where he was able to practically dribble the ball into the goal to give the Rams a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute.
Less than two minutes later, the Rams attack on the visitors' goal was reward when Jafeth Rodriguez sent a crossing pass from the right wing into the goal box that Suh headed in for his second strike.
With a 2-0 lead to their credit the Rams played a more relaxed game for the remainder of the first half, but the Mustangs did not show any urgency until after well after the intermission. Even then, HT goalkeeper
Juan Acosta and defenders Camarena, Caden Cornwell, Cuan Kingwill, Hank Sullins, and
Aden DeJute kept thwarting Southwest's opportunities.
The Mustangs ended Acosta's shutout bid in the 80th minute when Millaivy Lopez recovered a turnover just outside the penalty area and scored from approximately 12 yards out. It was Acosta's lone blemish in an otherwise sterling performance that included seven saves to his credit.
As the clock wound down, the Mustangs continued their sense of urgency, but that left them vulnerable to counterattacks. In the 88th minute, Suh reclaimed a Southwest turnover at midfield, and along with Cornwell, took advantage of an odd-man rush with a give-and-go sequence that ended with Suh's third goal of the match.
The win over the Mustangs was HT's third consecutive triumph in as many seasons. Suh's hat trick was the first for the Rams since Oct. 6, 2022, when Jommar Reyes scored thrice in HT's 4-2 win at Jarvis Christian.
HT will put their two-match winning streak on the line this week when the Rams travel to Rapides Parish, La., for matches against Louisiana Christian and LSU–Alexandria, the league's third- and second-place teams, respectively. The Rams kick off the trip at LCU on Thursday, Oct. 17, with a 7:30 kickoff at Wildcat Stadium on campus.
– HT –
