RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's soccer team scored twice in the final 24 minutes to beat the California Baptist University Lancers 2-1 on Sunday at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
 
Down 1-0 in the 67^th minute, the Vaqueros (5-3-0, 2-0-0 WAC) sent a long pass toward the top of the box. A Lancers (6-2-2, 1-1-1 WAC) defender tried to clear the ball away, but graduate student Yusuf Cueceoglu skipped to his right to stop the ball, which bounced off his foot. Junior Moiad Ankir cut in front to grab the rebound and then send a no-look, backward pass to Cueceoglu, who settled the ball and sent a one-hooper to the right of a diving Evan Ince (4-1-1) to tie the match at 1.
 
Then, in the 82^nd minute, Cueceoglu sent a corner kick into the box. Ince came out to get it but couldn't hold on. The ball trickled to his left, and as it did, graduate student Bryce Box used his right foot to shoot the ball through the scrum and into the back of the net.
 
Cueceoglu now has four goals and three assists for 11 points, the second highest totals on the team. This was Box's first goal of the season and Ankir's second assist.
 
The Lancers scored their goal in the eighth minute on a strike by Bryan Iliohan.
 
Senior Oliver Padilla (2-0-0) finished with three saves.
 
The Lancers outshot the Vaqueros 12-4, including 4-3 on goal.
 
UTRGV is back in action on Friday at 7 p.m. at Air Force. Those unable to attend the match in person can watch on the WAC Digital Network.

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