Courtesy Schreiner University Sports Information Department

Hardin-Simmons celebrates its second straight ASC men's soccer title.

KERRVILLE, Texas — The Hardin-Simmons men’s soccer team claimed its second straight American Southwest Conference championship with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Mississippi College on Sunday afternoon at Mountaineer Field.

Mississippi College struck first as Phillip Buffington scored on a breakaway goal in the 12th minute. Hardin-Simmons had three excellent chances in the first half but failed to finish.

In the second half, the Cowboys were able to convert when freshman Estevan Arbariza found the net in the 52nd minute. Then senior David Salas scored in the 60th minute off a rebound from MC goalkeeper Tony Yancey to give the Cowboys the lead they would not relinquish and cement his second straight ASC Tournament MVP award.

“What can you say about this team,” HSU head coach Dan Heger said. “Austin White was great in goal, like he has been all tournament long and the big fellow (David Salas) got another one. The team bought in to what we were trying to do and we are going to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.”

Salas scored a goal in all three Cowboy wins. HSU is the first team in ASC history to win three games in three days to take the title.

HSU had to hold off a furious charge by MC in the last 30 minutes, but freshman goalkeeper Austin White was up to the task. MC outshot the Cowboys 17-5 in the second half, but White had eight second-half saves.

Both teams were missing key player; Hardin-Simmons’ Nick Sager was sidelined with an ankle injury suffered on Friday, and Mississippi’s Matt Cox sat the bench as a result of a late-game red card on Saturday.

The Cowboys improved to 14-5-1 on the year and earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship. Mississippi College ended its season with a record of 14-5-3. HSU will find out tournament pairings at 9 a.m. EST Monday on www.ncaasports.com.

Mississippi College  1 0 - 1 
Hardin-Simmons       0 2 - 2

SCORING SUMMARY

1. 12:21 MC Phillip Buffington (unassisted)
2. 52:39 HSU Estevan Arbariza (unassisted)
3. 60:57 HSU David Salas (unassisted)

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

• MVP: David Salas, Hardin-Simmons
• Hardin-Simmons: David Salas (MVP), Tyler Allen, Ricky Matthies, Colt McKee
• Mississippi College: Keith Armstrong, Phillip Applewhite, Jesse Purvis
• Schreiner: David Ramos, Jorge Pineda
• Ozarks: Jared Gordon, Brian Sarber