SEGUIN â€" Gabe Sanchez's first career goal gave the Texas Lutheran men's soccer team a 1-0 Senior Day home win over Schreiner on Friday afternoon.
 
Sanchez (Round Rock, Texas) may have waited until the last regular-season game of his junior season to score a goal in a TLU uniform, but his timing couldn't have been better. He found himself all alone on a corner kick as Colin Nunley's cross floated perfectly towards his head. Sanchez headed the ball home to give the Bulldogs the 1-0 lead in the 60th minute.
 
The regular-season finale result was huge for the Bulldogs, as it improved their record to 8-8-2 overall. More importantly, it improved their SCAC mark to 6-7-1, securing at least the fifth seed heading into next week's conference tournament in Seguin. A loss to Schreiner, who entered the day just four points behind TLU for fifth, could have sent the Bulldogs down to the six seed.
 
Nunley (Keller, Texas) was responsible for the set up to Sanchez's goal. The assist was the sophomore's fifth of the season, tying him for the team lead.
 
The defensive effort was good for the Bulldogs, as they held Schreiner without a goal for the second time this season. It was the eighth shutout of the year for TLU keeper Jonathan Michael (Coppell, Texas). The junior made six saves on the day to keep the clean sheet.
 
The shots were even for both teams, with the Bulldogs gaining the slightest of advantages, outshooting Schreiner 13-12. TLU recorded seven shots on goal, while the Mountaineers have six.
 
Sanchez and Jerry Kent (Brenham, Texas) both came off the bench and were active, leading the Bulldogs with three shots apiece. Sanchez was rewarded with a goal, but Kent had a shot saved that would have been a spectacular individual effort.
 
Now that the regular season is over, the Bulldogs can turn their attention to next weekend's SCAC Men's Soccer Championship in Seguin. The top six teams in the conference have qualified, with the quarterfinals set to kick off Friday, Nov. 7. The semifinals are slated for the next day, while the championship will kick off on Sunday, Nov. 9.