AUSTIN - High hopes surround the start of soccer season for the University of Texas-Pan American Broncs, who return the nation's No. 2 scorer, Mario Ribera, against Texas Christian University here Thursday in the St. Edward's University Tournament.

Ribera, a 5-foot-5 sophomore from Bolivia, led NCAA Division I scoring most of the 1992 season. He finished with 68 points on 29 goals and 10 assists.

Rob Ukrop of Davidson edged Ribera for the title by scoring 72 points on 31 goals and matching Ribera's 10 assists.

"Mario Ribera is doing fine--physically he's okay," said Coach Eloy Moran. "They'll probably be all over him, but i can honestly say no one player can stop him. They're going to have to put more than one player on him. He's used to being marked.:

Ribera weighs just 142 pounds but he combine quickness, toughness and soccer savvy. He played alongside men who are now threatening to qualify Bolivia for the 1994 World Cup.

With 11 other veterans on a 22-man squad, the Broncs possess solid experience. Two of those veterans are hurt. Shane Hurley of Harlingen has had some back spasms. Alector Cardenas of McAllen is recovering from a bad ankle sprain.

Both Bronc goalies, veteran Albert Flores of McAllen and freshman Jonathan McCurley of Angleton, are bruised but able to play.

UTPA's veterans include three other Cardenas brothers--Arnoldo, Jose and Rafael--besides Alector.

The other Bronc veterans include Ricardo Ochoa, Jose Pacheco and Jesus Tavarez, McAllen; Jose Sanchez, Brownsville; and Victor Ramos, Holister, Calif.

New talent for the Broncs ranges from Spain (juan Alonso) to California (Rafael Roman). Other newcomers are Jose Almanzan and Hector Lopez, Weslaco; Oscar Ortiz, Mission; Eric Jarvis, Tucson Ariz.; Miguel Espinosa, McAllen; Mark Serrata, Harlingen; Juan Carlos Vasquez, Brownsville; and Agustin Aguilar, Lufkin.

Friday wil be an open date for the Broncs, but they battle Centenary at 3 p.m. at St. Edward's on Saturday, then play in Sunday's final round. Thursday's opener is at 5:30 p.m.

"We're defending champions of this tournament and we'd like to win it," Moran said, "but we remember losing to TCU in overtime here two years ago, 3-2, after we scored first in overtime."

The Broncs will be hosts to the Sun Belt Conference Soccer Championship in early November. Until then they are virtually a road team. They have scheduled just one home game--against St. Edward's on Oct. 17 in Edinburg.