HOUSTON – Ryley Gibbs scored a goal and added an assist as SIUE men's soccer picked up its first victory of the year, winning 2-1 Sunday at Houston Christian.
SIUE improved to 3-1-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference and 5-5-2 overall. HCU dropped to 1-1-2 in the league and 3-5-4 overall.
Gibbs' team-leading fifth goal of the year gave SIUE a 1-0 lead going to halftime. The goal came in the 24th minute on an assist by Elliot Forestier. The Cougars doubled its lead in the 67th minute when Mathias Clausen scored his first goal of the year with an assist from Gibbs.
HCU got a goal back in the 73rd minute on Leo Makatta's first goal of the year for the Huskies.
Houston Christian outshot SIUE 16-6 but managed just two shots on goal. Cougars' goalkeeper Brady Cochrane made a single save in picking up the win. HCU goalkeeper Harvey Heeps made one save also.
The win vaulted SIUE into first place in the OVC, pending the outcome of games later on Sunday. The Cougars return home Thursday to face Lindenwood at 6 p.m.
