AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward's men's soccer team's offense was clicking on all cylinders as they took down Texas A&M-International by a score of 6-1 Monday afternoon at LC Family Field.
 
There were a total of five yellow cards picked up between the two teams and #13 St. Edward's drew two early ones as JACK BLANTON and ANDREW FOX were the guilty parties in the 13^th and 17^th minutes.
 
The Hilltoppers refocused and started the scoring in the 28^th minute as Fox blasted a cross that was fed from JOSH TAYLOR into the back of the net to open the scoring. Just 38 seconds later, Fox again found the right touch as he placed a header past the keeper once again, this time from a STEVE AOUDOU offering.
 
With the score 2-0, St. Edward's continued to use ts speed to find gaps in the Texas A&M-International (8-9-1, HC 4-4) defense. After the ball was kicked around in the Texas A&M-International box by multiple players, the ball trickled to the feet of Taylor who finished the play just a couple feet away from the goal to put the Hilltoppers up 3-0.
 
As the half was winding down, the Hilltoppers had a free kick from 35 yards out and coach called for ALEX TOTILO to take it. He launched it to the far post and goalkeeper Miguel Lucio got has hands on the ball. However, another Dustdevil player collided with the keeper and the ball trickled past the line for a goal with just one second left in the half.
 
As the second half began, the Hilltoppers came out with intense pressure in the midfield to create a key turnover. Taylor picked up the loose ball and took it to the left corner. His cross found KYLE PUJATS who calmly placed the header past the keeper to give St. Edward's the 5-0 lead in just the 48^th minute of play
 
St. Edward's found its sixth goal by way of DANIEL RILEY in the 54^th minute. Fox launched a high arching pass in his direction and Riley came away with ball through a crowd of what consisted of the Dustdevil goalkeeper and a defender.
 
TAMU-International found its lone goal via Eduardo Serrano in the 74^th minute as Jovany Macias played a great cross to the far post. Serrano's header narrowly missed the glove of keeper Kevin Lieb, cutting the deficit to 6-1.
 
The teams combined for 39 fouls and Texas A&M International picked up three yellow cards in the second half.
 
Head Coach Brian Young gave high praise to his team after the match, "It's always great to have different players scoring because it balances our attack and makes us more dangerous. Our style of play gets a lot of players into the attack and we really concentrated on our finishes today." Young also spoke of the rivalry between St. Edward's and Texas A&M-International saying, "It's a rivalry match and they are always going to be intense. The players and staff expect it to be the same thing we play them in the semifinal of the Heartland Conference Tournament on Friday."
 
St. Edward's will once again take on the Dustdevils this Friday in the Heartland Conference Tournament. Coach Young reiterated that the team is ready and waiting for the action to start. "It's the first conference tournament for the men's teams in more than 10 years, so it's exciting for all the men's teams involved. Going 8-0 in the regular season makes us the first men's team to do so but the playoffs are different because it is win or go home. The players know what is at stake and they need to be focused and come out with a lot of energy".  Kickoff starts at 2:30 for the Hilltoppers as they look to advance to the championship match against either St. Mary's or Newman.