RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's soccer team played to a scoreless 0-0 draw Thursday against the San Diego State (SDSU) Aztecs at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
The first half was slow and methodical. The first scoring chance came in the 18
th minute as UTRGV (3-6-4, 1-2-3 Western Athletic Conference) sophomore forward
Keaviano Francis manufactured some momentum, but SDSU (8-4-3, 5-0-1 WAC) keeper
Djibril Doumbia made the save.
The teams combined to take just two shots in the first half, with the second UTRGV look not coming until inside of five minutes left in the half. The Vaqueros charged up the pitch and junior defender
Kimito Fritz put a shot on goal, but another save was made by Doumbia. Sophomore goalkeeper
Fernando Carreon made one save for UTRGV in the 31
stminute, punching away a header that resulted from a free kick.
The second half was played at a faster pace as both teams tried to gain the advantage on the scoreboard. UTRGV was the aggressor offensively early, taking a pair of shots in the first 10 minutes in the frame courtesy of Francis and McAllen native freshman forward
Pablo Torre. Carreon made a clutch save in the 60
th minute, diving to deflect a SDSU shot that followed a turnover.
The physicality picked up in the second half with the teams combining for 17 fouls as they tried to find the back of the net. A touch-and-go play from the Aztecs sent a good look from
Jules Anderson on target in the 70
th minute, but Carreon and the Vaqueros defense was once again up for the task.
In the final seconds, the Vaqueros raced to the net and Fritz put a shot on goal, but one final save was made to preserve the scoreless draw.
The Vaqueros will be back in action Sunday at 12 p.m. at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex in the final home match of the regular season against California Baptist. Attendance is free but fans will need a digital pass to gain entrance. Fans can sign up for the UTRGV Soccer Pass at
GoUTRGV.com/SoccerPass. A clear bag policy is in place at the facility.
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