UT Dallas got on the scoreboard first with a Penalty Kick by Brian Martinez to put UTD up 3 to 0. SMU was determined to make a game out this, they came back with a converted Try of their own to take the lead 7 to 3. UTD was determined to keep SMU down. Scrumhalf Michael Shamoun ran in the first Try for UTD, unfortunately we missed the conversion, but UT Dallas had the lead at the end of the first half 8 to 7.
The second half began like the first half ended, both clubs throwing everything they could at each other. In this half, SMU made a Penalty kick of their own to retake the lead 10 to 8. But like the first half UTD wasn't to be out done and again it was the play and vision of the Scrumhalf that gave us another Try and the lead, Now UT Dallas 13, SMU 10. Minutes were ticking down and somehow SMU managed to poach the ball away from us and march down field. The UT Dallas defense was stellar at this point, they took everything SMU threw at them and defended their red zone, but in all of this defending, someone did something that the match official didn't like and UT Dallas Outside Center Andrew Do was issued a Yellow Card. This put UT Dallas a man short in the back line and it was here that SMU finally got the break they needed.
Playing a banger attack sucking the defense in they spun the ball out wide to their Wing and he scored the game winning Try with no time remaining. The final score UT Dallas 13, SMU 15.
The line up:
1. Maika Mauga, 2. Otto Wilkinson, 3. Ryan Lawton, 4. Precious Osuchukwu, 5. Manny Aykara, 6. Luke Lewis, 7. Jonathan Holmes, 8. Jake Pesnell, 9. Michael Shamoun, 10. Andrew Whiteis, 11. Nick Pebworth, 12. Seth McMahan, 13. Nicky DiCarlo, 14. Zach Richied, 15. Brian Martinez
Replacements: Blood Sub 10 minutes - Andrew Do for Seth McMahan, Seth did go back in. Second half replacements - Andrew Do for Nicky DiCarlo, Eric Smith for Manny, Ashar Nauman for Luke
This was a very good match for the lads, their game has improved tremendously and next week we travel to Wichita Falls to play Midwestern State University. This will be a 2:00pm kick off and directions will be posted as soon as I find out. We aren't out of this and if the lads continue to improve week in and week out, we still have a shot.
Last week and yesterday the UT Dallas Women played and they will get their own post, so as soon as I hear more about their game, I'll post the women's results.