RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's soccer program is excited to host the Western Illinois (WIU) Leathernecks on senior night Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
 
UTRGV will honor fifth year Eduardo De Oliveira and seniors Malang Mandiang, Mouhamed Pouye, Diego Rivera, and Arev Vera will be honored pregame at 6:20 p.m.
 
Last Time Out
 
UTRGV battled to a 2-2 draw against the HCU Huskies in a match that elapsed 481 hours and 54 minutes from opening kick to the final whistle.
 
Junior Elias Taj scored in the 10^th minute on Thursday, Oct. 1 to take an initial 1-0 lead.
 
The match was suspended in the 22nd minute and following the 2026 and 2027 NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer Rule 7.7.2, the match was resumed from the point of interruption, and all statistics carried over to the resumed game, including cards.
 
The Vaqueros returned to the pitch Wednesday, Oct. 21, when sophomore Sammy Jadid scored his third goal of the season to give UTRGV a 2-1 lead in the 51st minute.
 
The Huskies received game-tying goals from Ricardo Garcia and Calrenns Sainrimat. Jess Degenaers picked up the lone assist in the match.
 
Western Illinois – Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m. – UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex

The Vaqueros will take on the Leathernecks for the first time in program history. With the season nearing its end, UTRGV looks to jump ahead of WIU in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) standings Saturday.
 
The top six teams will qualify for the OVC tournament. UTRGV (3-5-4, 1-3-3 OVC) currently sits in eighth while the visitors, WIU (4-8-3, 2-4-1 OVC), have taken possession of sixth.
 
Both of WIU's wins in OVC play this year have come against their rivals, Eastern Illinois, and their lone draw came against Lindenwood.
 
Meanwhile, the Vaqueros enter the match with a win at Southern Indiana and draws against Eastern Illinois, HCU, and Lindenwood.
 
Two of the OVC's leading goal scorers will be on display Saturday, as WIU's Xavier Gagnon ranks tied for third in the conference with six goals in 14 matches.
 
On the other side of the pitch, UTRGV's Taj is tied for sixth with five goals scored through 12 matches.
 
Fans can watch live domestically on ESPN+ or internationally on Southland International. Fans can also follow along through live stats.

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