MEN’S SOCCER DEFEATED BY UTAH TECH IN DEFENSIVE BATTLE

October 2, 2023October 2, 2023 Raul Garcia Sports UTRGV

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men’s soccer team was defeated 1-0 by the Utah Tech Trailblazers Sunday in a defensive battle at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex in a Western Athletic Conference (WAC) match.

For the first 30 minutes, neither team could find much offensive rhythm or apply consistent pressure in their offensive third due to sound defenses. Both teams did create some opportunities, with UTRGV (4-5-0, 1-1-0 WAC) putting three of four shots on goal and Utah Tech (5-4-0, 1-0-0 WAC) putting all four of its first half shots on goal. The defenses and good goalkeeping kept the match scoreless at halftime.

Wild was credited with four saves in the first half, including one good stop when he snatched a hard kick from the top of the box out of the air on arguably Utah Tech’s best look in the 19^th minute.

The Trailblazers defense forced some turnovers early in the half, but the Vaqueros controlled possession and dictated the final 15 minutes of the opening frame. Graduate student forward Bryant Farkarlun, freshman forward Keaviano Francis and freshman forward Tiago Gomes were among the top contributors to UTRGV’s offensive effort. Gomes worked hard to create a promising scoring chance in the 43^rd minute, sending a low shot on goal, but Stockton Short made the save.

Both offenses came out of the break aggressively trying to take the lead. The Trailblazers charged into the box and put a tight shot on goal two minutes into the second half, but Wild knocked it down. UTRGV raced up the pitch after the save and Francis sent a shot to the goal, but it was stopped by the top woodwork.

Senior defender Tristan Singh, Farkarlun and sophomore midfielder Cade Erickson each took shots in a three-minute flurry for the Vaqueros out of the gate, but nothing found the back of the net.

Defenses took over again after the early fireworks. Farkarlun continued to bring the energy for UTRGV and keep the Vaqueros attacking, but Short and the Trailblazers defense remained solid. UTRGV kept Utah Tech from finding any kind of offensive momentum for the majority of the battle, not allowing even a corner kick until the 67^th minute.

But in the 72^nd minute, Sami Cuevas broke through and gave the Trailblazers the 1-0 lead.

The Vaqueros upped the offensive pressure in the final 10 minutes, desperate to knot up the score. Farkarlun, sophomore forward Kgodiso Sukati, senior forward Oneeko Allen and graduate student midfielder Reda Ikarrain were in the thick of the offensive uptick, but the Trailblazers swarmed to the ball and held strong defensively.

UTRGV finished the match with 12 shots and five on goal and had nine corners to Utah Tech’s two, but four offsides calls and the stingy Trailblazers defense secured the UTU win. Wild finished with five saves and Short also had five.

UTRGV’s next match is Thursday at 9:30 p.m. at California Baptist.