LITTLE ROCK - Recovering from a rough start, the University of Texas-Pan American soccer team starts playing Sun Belt Conference rivals at Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday and North Texas on Sunday.

There's no official Sun Belt soccer standings, but these results will be important for seedings when the SBC Championships unfold at UTPA Nov. 4-6. All six SBC soccer teams, including the University of North Texas (for soccer only), will compete.

Alector Cardenas still has a tender ankle and Mario Ribera has tightness in a hamstring, but the 18 Broncs look otherwise healthy for the long trip.

"Mario is recovering well--he played in practice Tuesday and his ankle held up fine," said Coach Eloy Moran. "Hopefully the guys will play well, and bounce back from the two defeats we had in Austin. I expect them to--and they expect to. These games are crucial for the conference tournament pairings."

The Broncs stand 0-2-1 after two overtime thrillers, a 2-2 tie with TCU and a 3-2 loss to Centenary, at the St. Edward's Tournament. This weekend they play Little Rock at 2 p.m. Saturday and at Denton at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Bronc goalies Albert Flores and Jonathan McCurley rank 2-3 in Sun Belt goalkeeping, allowing 1.50 and 2.57 goals. Jesus Tavarez of UTPA is tied for No. 6 in conference scoing with four points in three games. Ribera was held to one goal in two games.