AUSTIN, Texas – Playing a man down for the final eight minutes, St. Edward's men's soccer survived and even created multiple opportunities late in a 1-1 draw with West Texas A&M.  
 
West Texas A&M struck first in the 17^th minute on a corner kick triggered from the right side by Matteo Landais that found Theo Bennetts on the far side of the goal for the header.
 
Both teams went to the bench with 23 minutes remaining in the half, and JOMMAR REYES provided energy with an ambitious shot on goal stopped by keeper Asaf Kristal.  
 
A few minutes later, BARTEK ZABEK delivered a beautiful ball for HUNTER MERRITT, triggering a one-on-one breakaway with the keeper before a West Texas A&M defender broke it up from behind, setting up a corner kick. The corner failed, triggering a breakaway for Chris Palomino with only TODD FULLER running with him. Fuller managed to overtake Palomino, blocking the shot attempt.
 
The Hilltoppers carried the momentum for a quick counter, earning a throw-in from deep inside their attacking third. HUNTER MERRITT made the long throw into the box, and IRVIN ABARCA settled the pass off his chest and kicked it past Kristal for the equalizer 30 minutes in.
 
A little more than 10 minutes later, West Texas A&M played a free kick from near midfield into the box, broken up by Merritt. The ball ricocheted off the freshman wing's foot to JOMMAR REYES sprinting towards midfield with open space. Reyes played the ball ahead to VICENTE ALVAREZ, who put a shot off a West Texas A&M defender to earn the Hilltoppers back-to-back corner attempts they couldn't convert on as time expired to go into the half even.
 
The Buffaloes earned a corner and a few consecutive throw-ins in the first three minutes of the second half, but the Hilltopper defense held firm, clearing the opportunity.
 
St. Edward's earned a corner with 36 minutes remaining when Fuller threaded a pass through the defense for CASON BERG, broken up by the backline. MARTIN TELLEZ put a shot on goal, but Kristal stopped it. 
 
West Texas A&M immediately earned a free kick near midfield played into the box by Bryan Martinez and broken up by St. Edward's keeper KALEO FRANCIS.
 
Fuller made a spectacular tackle to break up a dangerous opportunity, and West Texas A&M failed to convert on the ensuing corner.
 
St. Edward's BARTEK ZABEK was flagged with a red card with a under eight minutes remaining, putting the Hilltoppers a man down. The Hilltoppers kept the pressure on, earning a free kick, a corner, and a shot opportunity from CARLOS HUATO that sailed just over the crossbar with less than a minute remaining.
 
West Texas A&M made a push in the last minute, but Fuller was able to break up the play and draw a yellow card from Palomino with 56 seconds remaining, ending the Buffaloes' final opportunity.
 
St. Edward's is 0-5-2 after the draw. The Hilltoppers will open conference play next week at home against Oklahoma Christian at 1 p.m.