EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's soccer team won its NCAA Division I program record fifth Western Athletic Conference match, 2-1 over CSU Bakersfield on Friday at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
UTRGV's (10-4-0, 5-2-0 WAC) previous record for conference victories was four, having gone 4-4-2 each of the last two seasons. UTRGV is also in the midst of just the third 10+ win season in NCAA Division I program history after previously going 11-2-0 in 1992 and 10-5-1 in 1991. The win also extends UTRGV's NCAA Division I program record for home wins to six with a record of 6-1-0.
UTRGV is currently on a four-match winning streak and has won nine of its last 11 matches.
Down 1-0 midway through the first half, senior
Jaakko Hietikko took a rebound from junior
Kyle Edwards and buried it in the back of the net to tie the match.
UTRGV took the lead in the final seconds of the half when junior
Angel Lopez sent a cross to sophomore
Bryce Box who scored to make the score 2-1.
Junior
Andy Rios (7-3-0) made the goals stand up by making four saves.
CSU Bakersfield's (4-9-1, 2-4-1 WAC) lone goal came in the 20
th minute when
Ryan Goldsmith passed to
Niall Owens who found
Niklas Koerber to finish off a 3-on-1 opportunity.
Rodrigo Sarmiento (2-5-1) made two saves for CSU Bakersfield.
Shots were even at 13 apiece while shots on goal were even at five apiece.
UTRGV hosts California Baptist on Super Saver Sunday at 11 a.m. Any fans bringing five non-perishable food items will receive free admission. All donations benefit the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley. Gates open at 10.
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