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It took Beto Soto 92 minutes and 37 seconds to make a major impact in his Marquette men’s soccer career.
That’s the moment when Soto, a freshman from Houston, knocked home a Christian Marquez pass to give the Golden Eagles a 1-0 overtime victory over Loyola-Chicago Ramblers in the first game of the 2021 spring season for both teams. MU moves to 1-0-0 on the year, but also 14-0-1 all time against Loyola.
It was not the most entertaining or engaging soccer match you’ll see. The two sides combined for just 19 shots in 90 minutes of regulation play. Shots were tied up 3-3 at halftime, so I guess credit where credit is due to the Ramblers for outshooting Marquette 10-3 in the second 45 minute session. However, goalkeeper Chandler Hallwood, making his Marquette debut after subbing in for Jackson Weyman at the half, made three saves in the second half to keep the visiting team off the scoreboard. One of them was perhaps literally game saving, as he punched a ball up and over the cross bar with less than 30 seconds left to play in regulation.
The ensuing corner kick went nowhere for the Ramblers, and that means it was time for FREE SOCCER in Marquette’s first match of the season. Nothing particularly dramatic happened for the first two minutes. Then, this:
Newcomer Beto Soto with the finish in OT in the season opener for the 1-0 win over Loyola, courtesy of a Christian Marquez assist after a turnover. pic.twitter.com/zSgUE7IDt0
— Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) February 4, 2021
A simple play, three of them, really. Marquez cut off the Loyola crossing pass in the midfield, then sent it forward to Soto with his second touch. Soto got behind all the defenders, timed up his feet, and sent it zipping simply, but effectively, past goalkeeper Alex Grow for the win in the 93rd minute.
Soto was one of two newcomers in the starting 11 for Marquette in the season opener. The other was defender Harvey Read, who played 61 minutes in the backline for the Golden Eagles. Jonathan Robinson made his Marquette debut in the starting lineup as well and played all 93 minutes after redshirting last season. This game was also the MU debuts for Hallwood, Nick Guido, Jai Hsieh-Bailey, and Noah Madrigal.
Up Next: Sunday! Live from the seasonal bubble at Valley Fields! It’s Marquette hosting Northern Illinois! It will be the season debut for the Huskies, who went 7-10-1 in 2019.