The University of Texas at Dallas men’s soccer team earned its sixth American Southwest Conference (ASC) championship by defeating Concordia University Texas on Nov. 4 in Belton, Texas.
After a second overtime ended with the game tied 1-1, the Comets prevailed 6-5 on penalty kicks to win their first ASC title since 2019. Aiden Currie converted the final shot to clinch the crown for UT Dallas, which also won ASC titles in 2004, 2007, 2015 and 2016.
The Comets will face Trinity University in the first round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament at 5 p.m. Nov. 11 in San Antonio.
Trailing 1-0 in the second half against Concordia, Kayson Marriott, who was named the tournament’s MVP, evened the score on a header off a corner kick from Riley O’Donnell. UTD goalkeeper Michael Hesse made a leaping save in the final minute to preserve the tie at the end of regulation.
In addition to Currie, Kane Kidwell, Vaughn Morgan, Luke Deats, Gavin Smith and Alex Mutalibov converted penalty kicks for the Comets. Hesse, Kidwell and Benny Lube were named to the All-ASC Tournament team.
Other members of the UTD team are Carlos Arconada, Alex Kalakanis, Alan Beaney, Joe Ruedi, Josh Zemanski, Cole Morgan, Kawan Borba, Leo Castro, Julio De Los Reyes, Devin Hammel, Careem Flores, Luke Harris, Eliott Detroyat, Cayden Casburn, Seb Calderon, Nathan Frost, Kaleem Shabout, Zach Pena, Alexis Serrano, Aidan Peterson, Ben Paranidharan, Trey Smith, Eric Roeren, Hamza Syed, Anthony Alston and Ethan Gilbert.
Volleyball
The volleyball team will begin its quest for a third consecutive ASC championship when it faces Howard Payne University in the tournament quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 in Belton, Texas.
Cross Country
The men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete Nov. 11 at the NCAA Division III West Regional in Riverside, California.