ALPINE, Texas – CHRISTIAN MEZAS found ARTHUR SOUZA for a goal in the game's opening minutes, and the St. Edward's men's soccer team shut down Sul Ross State for its fifth clean sheet of the season with the 1-0 win. 
 
St. Edward's set its possession through the defensive back line near midfield. IRVIN ABARCA flipped it to PABLO ZAVALA on the right side, who found IZAIAH GARZA down the line. Garza quickly turned upfield and threaded the ball to Mezas down the right sideline in space for the quick cross and a spectacular backheel goal for Souza just shy of the third minute.
 
The goal was Souza's eighth of the season, tied for the second-most in the Lone Star Conference. Mezas picked up his sixth assist, matching the conference lead for most this season.
 
St. Edward's kept the pressure up with a shot on goal from SHUNJI WATANABE two minutes later, then a corner kick in the sixth minute, and a shot from TODD FULLER in the 10th minute. JETHRO VOURJOLO added a fourth shot in the 29th minute, and the Hilltoppers left the half with the only four shots of the game and a 1-0 lead. 
 
Sul Ross State put together a trio of shots in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Jesus Duque put the Lobos' only shot on goal, and St. Edward's keeper ANGEL RAMIREZ picked up the save. St. Edward's outshot Sul Ross State 8-5 in the second half. 
 
St. Edward's improves to 6-4-4 with a 4-1-3 conference record. The Hilltoppers will host Dallas Baptist on Saturday for Senior Day and then close out the regular season on the road against West Texas A&M on Wednesday, Nov. 6.