EDINBURG - Two players short of a load, the Bronc soccer team leaves on a 700-mile drive to Amarillo that will be shorter than their next two trips that climax a hectic final schedule.

The University of Texas-Pan American will challenge West Texas State at 5:30 p.m. in Amarillo, then drive back to San Antonio to play Trinity at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The Broncs left Wednesday with a 9-2 record and retaining hopes of a possible spot in the NCAA national playoffs. But they must keep winning on the road. They go to Shreveport, La., and Mobile, Ala., to round out their regular season.

"We're leaving Jorge Cavazos behind because he's hurt and I really don't want to risk him," Coach Eloy Moran said. "We played Trinity without him last time and won. He's still hurting from strained ligaments in his left foot."

"Jose Pacheco just finished getting a bone scan on his knee. He probably can't play either," Moran added. "We don't want to risk anyone until we really need him, the last two or three trips."

All six Sun Belt Conference soccer-playing members automatically qualify for the championship tournament. Latest won-lost records show UT Pan American 9-2, South Alabama 8-4-1, Western Kentucky 8-5, Jacksonville 5-7-1, Arkansas-Little Rock 6-7 and Central Florida 3-8.

Fredy Sanguinetti, Bronc goalie, still leads the goalkeepers, giving up just 0.73 goals per game. Damon Gore of South Alabama has a 0.90 record and Mark Freer of Western Kentucky 0.92.

Chris Huchinson of Western Kentucky is running away with the scoring race thanks to 12 goals and 27 points. Mohsen Husain, Ronny Cabrera and Jesus Tavarez of UT Pan American rank 4-5-6 in scoring with 17, 15 and 14 points. Cabrera's five assists lead the SBC.