Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men’s soccer team grabbed an early lead and then held off a late St. Thomas rally as the Cru held on for a 1-0 win Tuesday evening in Belton. The UMHB men improve to 1-4 on the season with the victory. The loss drops St. Thomas to 3-2 on the year.

The two teams were locked up in a scoreless tie until St. Thomas committed a handball in the goalie box with 2:04 remaining in the first half. Jonathan Hernandez drove the ensuing penalty kick past a diving St. Thomas goalkeeper to give UMHB a 1-0 edge. The Cru would make it stand up with a solid second-half defensive effort. Mark Miller finished with three saves in goal for UMHB to post his first collegiate shutout. Lukas Simon had nine saves in goal for St. Thomas. UMHB out shot St. Thomas 20-8 in the victory.

The Cru will now hit the road again to open American Southwest Conference play on Saturday. UMHB will travel to Brownwood to take on Howard Payne University in the second game of a women’s-men’s doubleheader.