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Soccer Team Continues Winning Streak
10/18/2010
 The men's soccer team was back in action at home on Friday, Oct. 15 to face off against nationally ranked #22 Bellevue University Bruins out of Nebraska. This was the first time Coach Champenoy has faced his alma mater, where he was an 2002 All American and where he coached the Bruins to three conference titles.
The Celts came out playing with something to prove, and it was obvious that they were well prepared. Rafael Bustos once again scored for UST in the seventh minute, connected on a set piece that was served into the box by senior midfielder Efrain Orozco, and then head back across by sophomore defender Jack Brett before Bustos headed it to goal. This was Bustos' fifth goal of the season. The Celts would create a couple more scoring chances before the half, but the score line stayed 1-0 UST going into half time. The Celts came out looking to put the game away in the second half and had a few near misses. Despite only having two shots in the second half, Bellevue jumped on a loose ball and fired the rebound past senior goalkeeper Lukas Simon to tie the game at 1 a piece. With only minutes remaining in regulation, UST senior forward Jad El-Masri broke through the Bruin defense and looked to have the game winner, but senior goalkeeper Sebastian Navarez came up with a game saving play. The match was going to overtime. The overtime saw more the same with the Celts continuing to push for the game winner. Despite having 7 shots in overtime, the Celts could not beat Navarez and the match ended in a 1-1 tie. UST out shot 22 to 8 with 6 shots. Lukas Simon recorded 4 saves.
UST was back at it Saturday, Oct. 16 versus the Huston-Tilloston University Rams at home at Strake Jesuit. The Celts struggled to find their legs after 110 minutes of battling the night before. Senior midfielder Shane Rojas was yellow-carded twice in the first half and sent off in the 35th minute. The first half saw both teams unable to find the goal and at halftime it was 0-0. Although playing with only 10 men and struggling to keep going the defensive performance was magnificent. Junior center back Mike Enriquez really was held down the back line. The Celts once again looked to junior midfielder Rafael Bustos. In the 70th minute Bustos collected a pass from El-Masri and placed it past the Ram goalkeeper for the game winner. This was the 5th game in a row that Bustos has scored to give him 6 now on the season.
In the last 5 games the Celts are unbeaten and outscoring their opponents 9-2.
"I am very proud of the guys and how they are working as a team to get these results,” said Coach Aaron Champenoy. “It has been a complete group effort and has started with their training sessions the last three weeks. We played some of the best soccer this program has ever seen on Friday night and really wanted that win. Unfortunately we just couldn't find the game winner, but I am so proud of their performance. Then to follow it up the next night with a gritty hard fought win against a quality opponent like HTU shows just how much this group of guys has grown this season."
Shown above: Michael Enriquez
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