RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's soccer team fell 2-1 to the Incarnate Word (UIW) Cardinals in a non-conference match Saturday at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
UTRGV (2-1-0) got on the board with a goal from junior forward
Kgodiso Sukati, who converted on his only shot of the match. UIW (1-2-1) outshot the Vaqueros 16-12 and had seven shots on goal to UTRGV's four.
The first half was a scoreless affair as the Vaqueros played solid defense. The Cardinals outshot UTRGV in the first 45 minutes, 9-4, but sophomore goalkeeper
Fernando Carreon made three tough saves and UTRGV's defense didn't give UIW any space to operate. Carreon made a pair of saves in the 10
th minute off a free kick, deflecting the first shot then knocking away the second as the Cardinals grabbed the initial rebound and sent the ball right back on goal.
Both teams sent a good look off the post in the first half. Thirty minutes in, the Vaqueros found a little bit of offensive rhythm and took a couple of shots in a one-minute span, but nothing reached the net. The Cardinals made one last push in the final three minutes and sent a hard shot to the goal, but it missed left.
UTRGV was the aggressor in the second half. The Vaqueros offense was active early, finding shots and getting three corners in the first 10 minutes of the half after only having two in the opening frame. In the 63
rd minute, Sukati put the Vaqueros on top, 1-0, after taking a great assist from senior midfielder
Cesar Baltazar in-stride off his left foot and sending it by the diving UIW keeper.
Both teams continued to press in the tight match, and the Cardinals evened things up in the 75
th minute as a corner kick turned into a goal from
Sello Diphoko on an assist from
Timothy Ospina. Junior midfielder
Cade Erickson had a shot two minutes later, but it was saved by
Alejandro DeLaTorre. Incarnate Word increased its lead to 2-1 in the 78
th minute as Diphoko scored again, this time off an assist from
Erick Rios following a free kick.
Senior forward
Oneeko Allen took a shot in the 80
th as the Vaqueros upped the intensity, but it was blocked. Carreon had a pair of saves in the 85
th minute as Incarnate Word continued to apply heavy offensive pressure even with the lead, earning a handful of corner kicks late in the match. The game got physical as both teams fought hard to the final whistle, and the Vaqueros tried to get the equalizer in the final minute, but it was broken up by the Cardinals defense.
Carreon finished the night with five saves. Sophomore forwards
Keaviano Francis and
Jaime Carrillo had two shots each.
UTRGV's next match is Thursday at 6:30 p.m. against Jacksonville at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex. 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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