AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's men's soccer seniors helped write a dramatic finish to their Senior Day celebration, rallying from a two-goal deficit and playing the final 20 minutes a man down before PAOLO VELA's last-minute goal secured a 4-3 victory over DBU on Saturday at Lewis-Chen Family Field.
Senior SHUNJI WATANABE created the decisive opportunity, chasing down a long pass over the top into the left corner, shielding possession from a larger defender, and turning toward the penalty area to draw a foul just outside the box. BARTEK ZABEK, who started his career with this senior class but reshirted a season, delivered the ensuing free kick, and Vela supplied the finish with 52 seconds remaining, turning his first goal of the season into the game-winner.
It capped a comeback in which St. Edward's scored four second-half goals, including three unanswered after falling behind 3-1.
The Hilltoppers spent much of the first half weathering DBU's attack. The Patriots generated 12 shots to St. Edward's four, with KALEO PEREZ-FRANCIS making saves against Caden Berg, Caleb Centeno, and Chase Turcotte to keep the match scoreless through the opening 43 minutes.
St. Edward's found chances through EASTON JONES and FILIP ADAMSKI, who each tested DBU goalkeeper Sean Mattivi late in the half. But the Patriots broke through with 1:03 remaining before halftime when Liam Spiller scored off an assist from Josten Watkins.
Watanabe helped produce the Hilltoppers' first response less than three minutes after the break, assisting MISAEL RANGEL's third goal of the season at 47:39 to bring St. Edward's level.
DBU answered with two goals less than three minutes apart. Erik Oliveira converted a penalty kick in the 54th minute, and Turcotte extended the lead at 56:47 off assists from Mark Burrage and Centeno.
St. Edward's began closing the gap in the 63rd minute when a DBU own goal following a Zabek corner kick cut the deficit to 3-2.
The comeback became more difficult when Jones received his second yellow card at 69:38, leaving the Hilltoppers to chase the match with 10 players. St. Edward's continued to press forward, however, generating chances and forcing DBU to defend despite its numerical advantage.
Watanabe put a shot on goal in the 74th minute, Guajardo followed with a blocked attempt, and JUAN SEGURA forced another save from Mattivi in the 76th. The Hilltoppers supplemented those opportunities with two corner kicks before Zabek delivered the equalizer on a penalty kick at 78:40 for his fifth goal of the season with 11 minutes remaining.
The Hilltoppers kept searching for the winner. Adamski sent an attempt over the crossbar in the 87th minute before Watanabe's work down the left side earned the free kick that decided the match.
Watanabe used positioning and leverage to protect the ball, then turned the corner on his defender to draw the foul. Zabek and Vela took care of the rest, completing the rally and giving St. Edward's its first lead of the night with less than a minute to play.
The Hilltoppers held DBU without a shot on goal after Turcotte's score in the 57th minute, closing out the victory despite playing short-handed down the stretch.
St. Edward's held 57 percent of the possession and earned five corner kicks to DBU's two, while the Patriots finished with a 20-14 advantage in shots.
The Hilltoppers improve to 4-7-4 overall and 3-4-2 in Lone Star Conference play. DBU falls to 6-4-6 overall and 2-2-5 in conference.
