ODESSA, TEXAS – A strong first half that featured 10 shots and two goals from the Eastern New Mexico men's soccer team led the Hounds to a 3-1 victory over UT-Permian Basin in their Heartland Conference opener in Odessa, Texas.

UT-Permian Basin (1-3, 0-1 Heartland) opened up the scoring in the 20^th minute on a shot from roughly 30 yards out that rattled off the cross bar and into the net. The Falcons would hold that lead over Eastern (3-2, 1-0 Heartland) for just six minutes as Gabriel Peres converted on a penalty kick goal that tied the match-up at 1-1.

Peres now has a team-high three goals on the season and finished the match with four shots, two of which were on target.

Forward Aderi Arthur-Dede followed up the equalizing goal with the go-ahead goal just four minutes later in the 30^th minute off of a cross from Jesus Garcia. Tommaso Favro extended the lead in the second half with a rebound in the 61^st minute that allowed the Hounds to continue to maintain control of the contest and secure their first Heartland Conference victory of the season.

Arthur-Dede led the Hounds with five total shots in the game and was one of six Eastern New Mexico players to record two or more shots throughout the match.

Eastern New Mexico totaled a season-high 20 shots in the match and allowed UTPB to total just three shots on goal, two of which were saved by keeper Ross Dalton, who saw his first action of the season. Four of the 10 shot attempts from the Falcons came in the final 20 minutes of the match, none of which threatened to narrow the 3-1 advantage.

Eastern New Mexico will look to add to their conference victories Saturday afternoon with a match scheduled for 12 p.m. against Lubbock Christian in Lubbock, Texas.