Free kick to victory: Christensen nets game-winner for Dixie State

2-1 over BYUH is 4th straight for DSC

Box Score Tweet #DSCmsoc

ST. GEORGE – The soccer ball does not have to be in constant motion for a team to be successful. Dixie State College freshman Eric Christensen (Layton, UT/Layton) could tell you that after Monday's match against BYU-Hawaii at Flyer Field.

With 77 seconds remaining in regulation, the defender lined up a free kick from outside 20 yards.

“It is a play he works on everyday and everybody on the team has confidence that he can hit it”, Dixie State head coach Danny Ortiz said.

Christensen send a laser-like shot into the upper right corner of the goal to give Dixie State a 2-1 victory over the Seasiders in Pacific West Conference play. The Red Storm improved to 5-6-1 on the year and 4-3-1 in the PacWest.

“It's a brilliant set piece,” Ortiz said. “He has missed it in previous matches, but put it right in the net tonight.”

The Red Storm got out to a 1-0 lead on a Ryan Benavente (Las Vegas, NV/Durango) penalty kick set up by a BYUH handball in the box. Benavente posted a goal in his second consecutive match - his third goal overall on the year.

“The PK early helped us in a very physical game,” Ortiz added. “It always is with them. They always have a big crowd come to support and it pumps them up.”

Twenty-four fouls were called between the two teams, including a pair of yellow cards against BYUH defender Sean Huckstep that forced him out of the match in the 74^th minute.

BYUH (2-4-1, 1-4-1 PWC) tied the match with a 65^th minute goal by James Puertas, from Provo.

Tyler Walters (Ogden, UT/Ben Lomand) had six saves for his fourth consecutive win. Dixie State won the shots battle 17-11.

Pacific West Conference play continues Thursday at 4:30 p.m. against the Sea Warriors of Hawai'i Pacific at Hansen Stadium.

BYU-Hawaii (2-4-1, 1-4-1 PWC) vs. Dixie State (5-6-1, 4-3-1 PWC)
Date: Oct 08, 2012 Attendance: 379
Weather: Sunny 81 Wispy Clouds

Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
BYU-Hawaii.......... 0 1 - 1
Dixie State......... 1 1 - 2

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 23:57 DX-MS Benevente, Ryan (3) Penalty kick
2. 64:47 BYUH-MS Puertas, James (2) (Waters, Brett) - off pass from 7, shot from left side to right post
3. 88:43 DX-MS Christensen, Eric (1) (unassisted) - off free kick, 20 yards out to right top corner

Shots: BYU-Hawaii 11, Dixie State 17
Saves: BYU-Hawaii 6 (Smedley, Tyler 6), Dixie State 7 (Walters, Tyler
6; TEAM 1)

Print Friendly Version