IRVING, Texas – With a cooler temperature in Dallas, it was a perfect evening for a competitive match of soccer. The Tigers faced a quality level opponent in the #12 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Despite being the first on the score board, the Tigers faced a tough 3-1 loss against the Engineers.

The Rundown
The Tigers were off to a quick start, scoring 7 minutes into the match. Forward Hanna Khan (Southlake, Texas / Carroll) played a through ball, deflecting off the defender's foot straight to forward Alex Doran (Boerne, Texas / Geneva School of Boerne), slotting the ball right past the keeper into the net. The match stayed tight for much of the first half, with both sides trading possession, keeping it a close and aggressive match. The Tigers held their lead until the 34th minute, when the Engineers crossed a ball in and their forward half volleyed the ball into the net, equalizing the score to 1-1.

From there, the match turned into a battle of endurance and defensive discipline. Both teams came out strong and ready into the second half. However, in an unfortunate series of events, the Tigers gave up a foul in the box, giving the Engineers a penalty kick, taking the lead and making it a 2-1 deficit. The Tigers never let up, with an almost goal from Malea Cesar (Portland, Ore. / Sunset) immediately following the Engineers second goal. Barely shooting the ball over the post, Cesar set the standard that the Tiger would not be letting up despite not having the lead. Despite the Tigers' persistence, the Engineers extended their lead in the later stages with a rare goal directly from a corner kick, making it 3–1. The Tigers fought until the final whistle but were unable to find another breakthrough.
While the result wasn't what the Tigers had hoped for, the match served as a valuable early-season test against a high-caliber opponent and provided key lessons to carry forward into the rest of the campaign.

Up Next
The Tigers will return home next weekend for back-to-back matchups against two familiar opponents. They will host Hardin-Simmons on September 12 at 6:00 p.m., followed by McMurry University on September 14 at 4:00 p.m. Both contests will provide the Tigers with a strong opportunity to regroup in front of their home crowd and build momentum as they continue their early-season slate.