Road wins are never easy. Road wins against an in-state rival crowd are even harder. But on a windy afternoon in Dallas, the Texas Longhorns showed exactly what tough teams do when things start slowly — they dig deep, find their rhythm, and grind out a win.
And that’s exactly what happened at Crum Field, just steps away from the George W. Bush Presidential Center, where Texas walked away with a hard-earned 9–8 victory over the SMU Mustangs.
This one wasn’t pretty.
But it was gutsy.
Texas used a 2nd quarter scoring spree barrage of 7 goals, to cling onwards for the Win!
George Vance McGee TX lacrosse Alumni Reporter: online Streamer Viewer detailed notes and report. Friday afternoon March 6th, 2026 georgevance@gmail.com
A Slow, Rusty Start for the Horns
The game began under gray, overcast skies, and the Texas offense looked like it might still be shaking off the 4 hour road trip from Austin, TX.
TX Possessions were short.
TX Sticks and ball handling looked unsure.
The offense struggled to maintain control and offensive possesion.
Meanwhile, SMU took advantage early and jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the first quarter.
The saving grace for Texas?
The Longhorn defense held firm, preventing the Mustangs from turning their early momentum into something bigger.
After one quarter, it was:
SMU 2 – Texas 0
But the Horns were about to catch offensive fire.
The Second Quarter Explosion
The Longhorn offense awakened in a big way in the second quarter.
And it all started with #51 for Texas. Luke Sganga
After a face-off win and unsettled possession, #51 buried a goal to get Texas on the board. That spark ignited a second-quarter offensive barrage that completely flipped the momentum of the game.
Soon the Horns were flying.
Crisp passing.
Ball movement around the perimeter.
Dodgers attacking short sticks.
At one point Texas scored on a beautiful sequence of “NBA Championship glory days San Antonio Spurs-esque” passing, whipping the ball around on offense until the Mustangs defense finally cracked.
Goal after goal followed.
#3 beat a short-stick middie with a clean dodge
#23 added another tally from the midfield
#41 Eigen ripped a low, hard laser past the keeper
And #51 Luke Sganga kept cooking, piling on multiple goals of his own
Texas poured in seven goals in the second quarter alone, one of the most explosive offensive stretches of the season.
Even the SMU broadcast crew took notice, mentioning that the game was one of the most well-attended SMU lacrosse home games of this season and in years.
By halftime, the Horns had completely turned the tide, and looked more like themselves.
Texas 7 – SMU 5
A Tight Battle in the Second Half
The second half turned into the kind of game fans survive with elevated heart rates. It was tight.
Physical.
Scrappy.
Defensive.
Interestingly, the officials kept their whistles quiet most of the afternoon, allowing both teams to play through contact.
The first penalty of the game didn’t even occur until late in the third quarter.
SMU struck first in the third, cutting the Texas lead to one.
But the Horns answered again, pushing the score to 8–6 before the Mustangs battled back to make it 8–7 heading into the fourth quarter.
By then the sun had finally broken through the clouds and the wind had picked up, setting the stage for a tense final stretch.
The Moment That Sealed It
Midway through the fourth quarter the Texas offense stalled a bit, struggling to generate clean looks.
Then came a crucial break.
With 3:40 remaining, SMU was called offsides, giving Texas its first yellow flag inducing man-up opportunity of the game, for 30 seconds of gametime.
The Texas coaching staff dialed up the right play.
The Horns executed perfectly.
#51 Luke Sganga found and assisted #5 for the man-up goal, giving Texas a crucial 9–7 cushion late in the game.
It was a massive play — the kind that wins tight road contests.
One Last Push from SMU
SMU refused to quit.
The Mustangs scored off a crease scramble to make it 9–8, sending a nervous buzz through the Dallas crowd.
But our Texas Longhorns Lacrosse Squad kept its composure.
Instead of forcing shots, the Longhorns slowed the game down and ran clock-control offense, forcing SMU to chase.
The Mustangs got one final chance — but the Texas defense and goalie stood strong.
After a defensive hold and with possession backed-up on their own side of the field; a Texas Long stick Defenseman launched a long soaring high “Gilman” clear down the field, sending the ball safely away and burning the final seconds off the clock.
Ballgame. Victory for Texas!
Final Score
Texas Longhorns 9
SMU Mustangs 8
A True Road Warrior Win
This wasn’t a blowout.
It wasn’t flashy.
But it was a tough, gritty, character win on the road, exactly the type of victory good teams build seasons around.
The Horns overcame:
A slow starting scoreless 1st quarter
Momentum swings
And a tight go either way; fourth-quarter finish
And they did it with heart, resilience, and clutch execution.
A special nod goes to #51, Luke Sganga who led the offensive charge with five-plus goals and a key late assist, putting together a dominant performance when Texas needed it most.
Road wins like this don’t just go in the standings.
They build belief.
And on a breezy afternoon in Dallas, the Longhorns showed why they're the defending Lone Star Alliance Conference Champs.
Celebrate good times, come on.
Hook ’em. 🤘 - I'm proud of yall! ---GVM
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