EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's soccer team scored three second half goals on its way to a 3-2 victory over Northern Illinois University (NIU) to close out the Rio Grande Valley Invitational on Sunday at UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
 
Junior Angel Lopez led a UTRGV (2-2) offense with a career-high tying two goals while junior Kyle Edwards accounted for the other UTRGV goal. Lopez also tied his career-high with a four-point match after his first two goals of the season.
 
UTRGV trailed 1-0 heading into the second half after a goal by NIU's (2-2) Alex Welch but it was Lopez who tied it up with his first goal of the match at 59:46. Junior William Akio took a long pass from graduate student Matt Beaulaurier and found Lopez in front of the net for an uncontested goal. 
 
Forty-four seconds later, Edwards received a pass from Akio and drove up the middle of the box scoring his second goal of the season and giving UTRGV the 2-1 lead at 60:30.
 
Lopez was at it again as he took a pass from senior Isaiah Hinds and put it in the back corner of the net at 65:35 for his second of the match.
 
NIU inched closer after a goal from Brodie Noah at 70:30 but UTRGV held on for its second victory and its first home win of the season.
 
UTRGV will be back in action on September 8 when it hosts UNC Greensboro at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex. Additionally, it will be Jersey Discount Night where fans who wear any football or soccer jersey will receive $3 tickets.

Support UTRGV Men's Soccer | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube