RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's soccer team scored three second half goals to defeat the UNLV Rebels 3-1 on Saturday at UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex in its home opener.
 
Midway through the first half, UNLV (1-2-2) took the 1-0 lead after Chilo Sanchez took the ball up the right side and found Valentin Hafner in the box who then snuck it past UTRGV goalie Trevor Schneider. 
 
The Vaqueros' (3-0-1, 3-0-1 WAC) offense then came alive. Senior William Akio converted on a penalty kick in the 49^thminute that tied the match at 1-1. 
 
Later in the half, Akio was at it again when he took the inbounding pass from Bryce Box and took all the way into the box and found the back end of the goal giving the Vaqueros the 2-1 lead. It's Akio's second multi-goal match of the season and fourth of his career. 
 
In the 65^thminute, junior Reshaun Walkes got UTRGV an insurance goal as he took the pass from junior Moiad Ankir and found the back of the net for his second goal of the season.
 
Schneider (3-0-1) made two saves as the Vaqueros held the Rebels to just six shots on the day, with just three on goal. 
 
The Vaqueros recorded 13 shots on the day with seven shots on goal. 
 
UTRGV will be back in action on March 20 when it faces San Jose State at 9 p.m. at the Spartan Soccer Complex. 

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