By Don Gilmore, TMU Assistant Sports Editor

The Master’s University men’s soccer team shut out Oregon Tech 2-0 Friday night in the club’s home opener and the first game of Labor Day Weekend’s Master’s Fall Classic on Reese Field.

Sophomore goalie Matheus Taraszkiewicz kept the Owls off the board for the first 25 minutes, and freshman Price Anderson did the same the rest of the way.

The victory was the third straight to start the 2018 campaign for the Mustangs.

“It was nice to get our first shutout,” Rickard said. “And, it was great to play several players.”

A scoreless first half was a disappointment to the Mustangs and their coach after two shots hit the post and two more low-angle attempts at an open net went awry.

That frustration turned to joy, though, just 2:02 into the second half when senior Benji Tembo (pictured above) found the net for the first time this season.

The All-American and reigning GSAC Player of the Year received a pass up the right side from Luis Garcia Sosa and beat Owl keeper Gerardo Skewes with his 30th career goal.

That score would have been enough with the way Anderson and the defense was playing. Anderson finished with four saves.

However, the offense gave its first-year keeper some breathing room in the 63rd minute (62:34) when graduate player Cameron Molyneux, with assists from Garcia Sosa and Matt Logan, put one past Skewes for a 2-0 lead.

It was Garcia’s team-leading fourth assist of the year while Logan collected his second.

That insurance goal allowed Rickard to empty his bench and he was good with that.

“I was impressed with the subs today,” Rickard said. “They came in and kept the level high.”

Here’s the box score.

They’ll need more of that kind of play Saturday when the Mustangs tangle with high-powered and 23rd-ranked UC Merced.

The Bobcats beat Hope International 6-3 Friday afternoon in the first match of the TMU Fall Classic.

Saturday’s match kicked off at 4:30 p.m.