Overtime own goal lifts Hounds to victory

ST. GEORGE, Utah — An own goal may be a strange way to take an overtime win, but you’ll take it -- especially when it gives you your best start in program history.

A cross in front of the Greyhound goal took a fortuitous bounce off a Dixie State defender Friday night, and the tally gave Eastern New Mexico a 2-1 win and its first 3-0 start in program history.

The Greyhounds never trailed, and took a quick lead in the contest when Charlie Hackshall set Joe Conway up on a breakaway. Conway had little trouble beating keeper Zach Nielson less than six minutes into the match.

The Trailblazers (1-2) responded in the second half with their own early goal, as Enrique Bucio buried a centering pass from Moises Medina for the first ball the get past ENMU keeper Ross Dalton on the early season. Dalton, the reigning Lone Star Conference goalkeeper of the week, saw his shutout streak end at 227:42 to open the season.

Dalton had five saves on the game, all in overtime as neither team registered a shot.

Lucas Vaz had four shots to lead the Greyhounds, who were outshot 12-11 but enjoyed a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal.

The Greyhounds will stay in Utah for a Sunday morning neutral-site contest against Westminster.