Luis Garcia-Sosa

The name has changed, at least with a slight variation, but the results were much the same as The Master’s University men’s soccer team used a couple of early goals to beat Westminster of Utah 2-0 in the season opener for the Mustangs.

A week after the change from college to university status, the Mustangs wasted little time jumping ahead as freshman Luis Garcia-Sosa (Valencia, Calif.) took a pass from Humphrey Mahowa (Lilongwe, Malawi) 3:52 into play and ripped a shot past Griffin keeper Sean Lyne and into the far side of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Just under ten minutes later (13:21), Mahowa was on the scoring end, capitalizing on a Lyne mistake to double the Mustangs’ advantage. Hanging around the Griffin goalie, who tried to make a move on him, Mahowa swiped the ball and tapped it in for one of the easiest goals of his two-plus seasons in the blue and gold and a 2-0 lead.

That was the extent of the Mustang offense and it proved to be enough for the remaining 76-plus minutes as the new-look defense played superbly in shutting out the Griffins. Playing this game as an exhibition on their schedule, the Griffins employed nearly its entire roster and nobody could muster any offense as the Mustangs held the hosts without a shot on goal.

Meanwhile, the Mustangs posted five shots on the Griffin net, including the two by Garcia-Sosa and Mahowa that found the back of the net. Mahowa nearly had another goal at the 26:38 mark, however, Lyne turned that one back.

In the second half, senior Zach Klindworth’s (Valencia, Calif.) shot at 62:25 was saved by Max Medley and in the 88th minute (87:09) Jonathan Brown’s attempt was turned away by Sean Speirs.

Following the match, 26th-year head coach Jim Rickard said, “I was pleased with our progress today. We moved the ball well and set up some nice chances, finishing two of them. The players are getting more comfortable with each other. We are excited for the test on Saturday.”

That “test” comes in the form of Carroll of Montana, which squares off with the Mustangs on Saturday at noon (PDT).