RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) announced on Tuesday that junior Elias Taj of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's soccer team is the OVC Offensive Player of the Week.
 
Taj was sensational in just 48 minutes of play Sunday night, netting his first career brace and tallying two assists in UTRGV's 5-0 win over the South Florida (USF) Bulls. Taj has helped the team to a 2-0-1 start, the best for the program since the 2020-21 season, a season in which UTRGV was ranked inside the top 25 for the first time in program history.
 
Taj tallied six total points in the match, tied for third-most in the NCAA this season and tied for seventh in UTRGV single-match history. Taj's performance is tied for first against NCAA DI opponents. Taj is the first Vaquero to enter the record books for points in a match since 2021, when Reshaun Wilkes tallied six points at Central Arkansas. Taj, Wilkes, and William Akio are the only Vaqueros to enter the record book for points scored in a match since the program restarted in 2015.
 
Taj was a facilitator in the first half, assisting on UTRGV's first goal a mere 24 seconds into the match. Senior Malang Mandiang delivered to the sprinting Taj on the wing. A low cross from Taj found the foot of fifth year Eduardo De Oliveira who finished off the spectacular play.
 
Similarly, in the 13^th minute, Taj was on the opposite wing before delivering another stunning cross from just outside the box. Sophomore Sammy Jadid was in the perfect position to redirect the ball just past the keeper to give the Vaqueros a commanding 2-0 lead.
 
The stellar play continued into the second half, although this time, Taj was the one finishing plays. In the 70^th minute, Taj deked a defender on the receiving end of a pass before sending the ball through the legs of the Bulls keeper to notch the fourth UTRGV goal and his first career goal.
 
Taj capped off his career night with another goal. This time, a wonderful series of passes put the Vaqueros in the box with numbers. Jadid, on the left wing, found junior Alexander Mink inside the box. Mink dropped it off to Taj in the middle. Taj played it inside to De Oliveira. De Oliveira flicked it back to Taj who buried it into the short side of the goal.
 
Taj finished the night with career highs in goals (2), assists (2), and points (6). Taj also helped UTRGV tally 16 points, which is tied for seventh in program history and ranks first when facing NCAA DI opponents. The Vaqueros' six assists are also tied for fourth in program history and tied for first when facing NCAA DI opponents.
 
The Vaqueros will look to carry the momentum into their next match at Oral Roberts on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The match is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Fans can watch live on the Summit League Network or follow along using live stats.
 
UTRGV Men's Soccer's 2026 OVC Weekly Awards 
Elias Taj, OVC Offensive Player of the Week, Sept. 8

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