PORTALES, N.M. – The No. 9 Eastern New Mexico men's soccer team will be tested this weekend as they travel to No. 4 West Texas A&M Thursday at 6 p.m. in its Lone Star Conference opener before hosting UT Permian Basin Saturday at noon inside Greyhound Stadium.
 
LAST WEEK
 
After becoming the first squad in program history to defeat two nationally ranked opponents in the same season the Eastern New Mexico men's soccer team continued its historic start with back-to-back shutout victories over the University of Mary and Montana State-Billings.
 
The Hounds were able to rely on their impenetrable defense against the Marauders of UOM as the backline only allowed four shots with none of them making it on goal. The first half was tightly contested as both squads struggled to establish an offensive rhythm as Eastern went to the locker room scoreless with a slim 4-3 advantage in the shots column. The Hounds were able to turn their strong defense into scoring chances in the second half as junior midfielder Gabriel Peres netted the game-winner in the 46th minute following a terrific through ball from junior defender Ivo Mendoza. Center backs Joaquin Borruel and Robbie Jenkinson have played all 457 minutes of the 2019 season and their play was again a crucial factor to the team's success against the Marauders. Goalkeeper Ross Dalton continued to captain the Hound's stingy defense and recorded his third shut out of the year.
 
MSUB had a handful of scoring chances in the first half of Saturday's match but Eastern's defense continued to prove why its one of the best in the Lone Star Conference by keeping the ball out of the net before the Hound's offense took over in the final 45 minutes out-shooting their competition 10-1. ENMU finished the match with a season-high in goals following three second half scores from Charlie Hackshall, Cesar Ochoa and Craig Brand. Hackshall, the junior midfielder, was awarded a penalty kick in the 73rd minute on a handball and made the opposition pay with his first goal of the season. Four minutes later sophomore defender Caio Pereira sent a ball to sophomore midfielder Ochoa who was able to corral the ball in a crowded box as he gave the Greyhounds the 2-0 advantage. Hackshall and junior midfielder Wilson Barahona ran a perfectly executed give-and-go play as they set up team captain Brand for an insurance goal in the final minute of the game. Barahona sent a lead pass to Hackshall down the right sideline as he sprinted past the defense before sending a beautiful back-heel pass to Barahona who unselfishly gave they ball up to Brand and buried the ball in the top left corner.
 
SCOUTING THE BUFFS
 
The Buffs boast one of the best defenses in the Lone Star Conference, leading the league in scoring margin (+2.00) and save percentage (.933) while outscoring their opponents 7-1.
 
WT will look to midfielders Stefan Andjelic and Kenny Brown, two of the most prolific scorers in the LSC. Andjelic is tied for fourth in goals scored with 3 averaging .750 per contest. Brown's 19 total shots is the third-best conference mark and is tied for eighth with two goals.
 
The Buffaloes also return 2018 United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team selection Lucca Lima who posted 11 goals and seven assists a season ago. In 2019 the senior midfielder has logged 74 minutes on two games while recording five shots.
 
Between the pipes WT will field 2018 USC All-Region Third Team honoree Alexander Vencel. The goalkeeper from France currently leads the conference with a .929 save percentage and ranks second with a .333 goals against average.
 
The Buff's backline is led by junior defenders Grayson Ellet and Marshall Ball who have played all 270 minutes for WT so far this season. The pair has helped its defense to the best goals against average in the LSC and has allowed just one goal in three matches.
 
Head Coach Butch Lauffer enters his 29th season at the helm of the WT men's soccer team after finishing with a program-high 17 wins on his way to earning USC South Central Coaching Staff of the Year in 2018.
 
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
 
The Falcons enter the week after mixed results earning a 1-0 shutout victory over Stanislaus State before falling to Texas A&M international 1-3.
 
UTPB holds the second worst scoring margin in the Lone Star posting a -1.00 mark while allowing the second most goals with nine.
 
The Falcons have scored four goals in 2019 with each coming from a different player.
 
Slavador Vargas Ramos has played in just three matches and is tied for a team-best one goal. The freshman has tallied nine total shots which ranks 12th in the conference.
 
Also contributing offensively for UTPB is sophomore forward Kasper Wallstroem, freshman forward John Karlsen and freshman midfielder Jakob Beschel.
 
Redshirt-freshman Aragon Alfonso has had a rough start to his collegiate career appearing in five games with four starts and allowing seven goals and recording 18 saves.
 
The Falcons are led by Head Coach Dennis Peterson who has been with the program since 2000 and has oversaw the program's transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. Since their transition, Peterson has led his team to a 44-105-8 overall record. Peterson finished with a program best nine wins in 2017 as the Falcons finished with a 9-7-2 record and a 8-6-0 conference mark while competing in the Heartland Conference.
 
2019 STORY LINES

The Green and Silver have appeared to be in spectacular form after finishing their non-conference schedule with a perfect 6-0-0 record while out-scoring their opposition 12-2. ENMU fields one of the best defenses in the country as its four shutouts and two goals allowed are tied for third and sixth in the nation respectively.
 
TAKING NOTICE
 
The red hot Hounds continue to move up the national rankings as they climbed four spots from last week and currently sit at No. 9 in the third United Soccer Coaches National Poll released Tuesday.
 
Along with their national ranking, ENMU owns the No. 2 spot in the South Central Regional Poll behind only West Texas A&M. Midwestern State is slated as the No. 3 team followed by Texas A&M International and St. Mary's who round out the top five.
 
CONFERENCE LEADERS
 
The Greyhounds boast a well-balanced squad, and rank in the top three of most major offensive and defensive categories across the conference. Offensively, ENMU ranks second in points (33), goals (12), assists (9) and shots on goal (47). On the defensive side of the ball the Hounds .33 goals against average is the lowest mark in the LSC while they lead the conference with four shutouts and rank second in goals allowed (2) and saves (25)
 
Eastern also fields some of the best individual players in the Lone Star including Hackshall and Dalton. Hackshall has the second most assists with four and is tied for sixth with six points. Dalton leads the conference with four shutouts and a .329 goals against average and ranks second with 25 total saves and a .926 save percentage.
 
ENMU RECORD BOOKS
 
Only six games into the 2019 season and the Hounds are already making their way into the all-time single-season record books. The squad's four shutouts are tied for the fifth most and are just one shy of tying the record currently set by the 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2016 teams. The 2019 team also moves into a tie for the ninth-most wins in program history with six and own the record for most consecutive victories. The Hounds are averaging the fourth-most goals (2/g), fifth most points (5.5/g) and sixth most assists (1.5/g) in the 16-year history of the program.
 
Individually, Ross Dalton is quickly establishing himself as one of the best keepers to put on a Greyhound jersey as his four shutouts and six wins rank third and sixth all-time respectively.
 
HOUNDS ON THE ROAD
 
In true road games this season the Hounds have produced a perfect 3-0 record. ENMU began the year with a 2-0 road win over then ranked No. 17 Colorado Mesa beating the Mavericks in dominant fashion before traveling to Trailblazer Stadium and taking a 2-1 overtime victory over Dixie State. Last week the Green and Silver did not allow a single shot on goal and earned a 1-0 shutout over the University of Mary.
 
HOUNDS AT GREYHOUND STADIUM
 
Eastern has only taken the field in front of its home supporters once this season but were able to defeat the then ranked No. 3 Fort Hays State 2-0. The Hounds return home for the first time since Sept. 8th as they face UT Permian Basin in a non-conference matchup.