JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Texas-Pan American begins its first soccer season as a major independent, after the Sun Belt Conference dropped soccer as an official sport, by playing three games on the home field of old SBC rival Jacksonville starting Friday.

UTPA's Broncs battle Alabama A&M, which competed in Sun Belt soccer a year ago, at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Then the Broncs meet Illinois-Chicago at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, also on Jacksonville's field.

The first two games are part of the Nike-Jacksonville University Soccer Tournament, which has four teams but isn't round-robin. UTPA will stay over to face Jacksonville at 4 p.m. Monday. That game will not be included in the tournament standings.

JU's Dolphins owned a 13-3-1 record last season so will be favored to win their tournament at home. UTPA (4-12 last season) tied Alabama A&M (3-11) for fifth and six place in the Sun Belt's final soccer campaign. Illinois-Chicago went 8-9-2 in 1996.

Dr. Miguel A. Paredes starts his third year as UTPA head coach with one assistant coach, former Bronc star Mario RIbera, who finished as the No. 2 scorer nationally in NCAA Division I in 1992.

The Broncs begin the year with a 17-player roster. Luis Cardenas, senior from McAllen, led the team in scoring last season with 17 points on seven goals and three assists. He is one of 12 veterans returning.

Other goal-scorers who return from last year are Daniel Ausucua of Tampico, Mexico and Ryan Knell of San Antonio.

Marcelo Paredes, senior from Edinburg, returns as the most experienced goalkeeper, playing 11 games to Ausucua's four.

The Broncs have scheduled their first 10 games on the road. They open their home season Oct. 11 against their Alumni. The three home games against college teams will be Oct. 17, 22, and 26.