UTB-TSC men's soccer announces 2009 schedule
The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College men's soccer team has announced its 2009 schedule and the most glaring difference from schedules from previous seasons is the influx of quality opponents in 2009.
The Scorpion soccer team will have an opportunity to impress NAIA Top 25 poll voters this season with games against prestigious soccer teams such as Texas A&M International, Belhaven College and Southern Nazarene. UTB-TSC also will have a chance at redemption as it plays the University of Mobile, which eliminated the Scorpions from the NAIA National Tournament last season with a 3-0 win.
In addition to a grueling non-conference schedule, the Scorpions must also contend with a difficult Red River Athletic Conference slate.
"The RRAC schedule is a handful, especially with the addition of (newly added RRAC member) Our Lady of the Lake University. Throw Southern Naz (Nazarene), TAMIU, Mobile and Belhaven in the mix and it becomes very difficult," UTB-TSC men's soccer coach Dan Balaguero said. "In order for us to make our move nationally we must challenge ourselves against the best."
Aside from the addition of prominent programs, the 2009 Scorpion men's soccer schedule includes more home games than in previous seasons. The Scorpions will play nine games at the REK Center Field on the UTB-TSC campus. This season will be the first time the Scorpions have played at the field after playing the past two seasons at Morningside Park.
"We are really excited to have more games in front of our home fans this year," Balaguero said. "We look forward to playing our first three regular season games here in Brownsville."
The Scorpions will begin the 2009 season Aug. 22 at home against San Jacinto College and will begin RRAC play Oct. 3 in San Antonio against Our Lady of the Lake. After two consecutive RRAC championships, Balaguero said the team realizes it will have a bull's-eye on it back and that the 2009 season will be a constant grind despite the opponent.
"All games are vital for us," Balaguero said. "There will be no easy games. The conference teams will approach their matchups with us as a cup final so we have to be ready for the challenge. The main objective is to win the conference and conference tournament."
THE SCHEDULE
Aug. 22 8 p.m. vs. San Jacinto College
Aug. 26 7 p.m. vs. Huston-Tillotson
Sept. 3 7 p.m. vs. St. Thomas - Houston
Sept. 5 7 p.m. vs. Southern Nazarene
Sept. 14 7 p.m. at Texas A&M International
Sept. 18 7 p.m. at University of Mobile
Sept. 19 5 p.m. vs. Belhaven College
Sept. 25 7 p.m. at St. Thomas - Houston
Oct. 3 1 p.m. at Our Lady of the Lake
Oct. 8 1 p.m. at College of the Southwest
Oct. 10 5 p.m. at Texas Wesleyan
Oct. 15 5 p.m. vs. Texas College
Oct. 17 1 p.m. vs. Bacone College
Oct. 22 5 p.m. at Huston-Tillotson
Oct. 24 1 p.m. at Southwestern Assemblies of God Univ.
Oct. 31 1 p.m. vs. Northwood University
Nov. 2 7 p.m. vs. Texas A&M International
Nov. 5 RRAC Conference Tourney (Fort Worth)
Nov. 21 NAIA National Tourney (First Round)
Dec. 1 NAIA National Tourney (Fresno, CA)
