SHREVEPORT, LA - After a first-half goal, Texas Wesleyan didn't manage much else and played down a man the final 18 minutes in a 5-1 loss to LSU-Shreveport Saturday.
The Rams (4-3) went on a 30-minute shot drought after Mateo Gonzalez (assisted by George Battersby) got Texas Wesleyan on the board. Gonzalez, one of the many freshman goal-scorers on the 2018 edition of TXWES soccer scored a goal in his second-straight match and now has three on the season.

The Shreveport (4-2) response to Gonzalez came just 90 seconds later off a goal from Daniel Meza. From there, Shreveport nailed a first half goal in the 44th minute.

24 minutes into the second half, the Pirates extended their lead during a 10-minute stretch where the Rams were called for five fouls and took no shots. A few minutes later was a point of no return for the Rams with Diego Alvarez receiving a red card. It took just three minutes for the Pirates to counter, leaving the Rams sinking.

Bastian Blumenburg did what he could to keep Texas Wesleyan in the fight, saving a penalty kick in the 80th minute, only to surrender the fifth goal a few minutes later. Blumenburg played the whole way, saving 10 shots.

Since losing their first two games, the Pirates have out-scored their opponents 26-1, after handling Sooner Athletic Conference opponent Southwest Assemblies of God 5-0 five days prior.

The Rams drop to 1-2 on the road, still 3-1 surrounded by the comforts of home, Martin Field.

WHAT'S NEXT:
A break, for the Rams who just played a grueling two-games-in-three-days stretch that included a trip out of state. Another road test in Plainview is next - the SAC opener - against Wayland Baptist before returning home September 29 against Central Christian.