Scorpions blank SAGU, win RRAC regular-season championship
WAXAHACHIE - The University of Texas at Brownsvilleand Texas Southmost College men's soccer team wrapped up its second straight Red River Athletic Conference championship with a 2-0 road victory over Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Friday.
The Scorpions remained unbeaten in RRAC play with a 6-0 record and are 11-4 overall.
"It wasn't real pretty, but a win is a win," Scorpions coach Dan Balaguero said. "I'm thrilled for the players and everybody involved with the program. The second year to win a title is always harder than the first year."
During the first year of the soccer program in 2007, the Scorpions rolled through the RRAC unbeaten with a 7-0 record and finished the season at 14-5-1. This year, they have recorded eight shutouts in 15 games. The Scorpions had 22 shots, including 17 on goal.
"We couldn't finish well today, but we were never in real danger," Balaguero said. "Today we missed our chances. The guys (getting) the victory was the most important thing. Everyone is thrilled to have another championship."
After a scoreless first half, Filiberto Cortinas got the Scorpions on the scoreboard in the 51st minute with an 8-yard shot on an assist by Steve Howard. In the 64th minute, Brian Hardie scored on a rebound by Juan Nava, who was credited with the assist.
The Scorpions allowed SAGU four shots, but just one reached goalkeeper Juan Gamboa.
UTB-TSC has two road games remaining on its regular-season schedule, a non-conference game at College of Santa Fe (N.M.) on Oct. 31 and the RRAC finale against the University of the Southwest (N.M.) Nov. 1.
Friday's victory also was important because the Scorpions also clinched the No. 1 seed in the RRAC Tournament in Fort Worth from Nov. 6 through 8. UTB-TSC has a quarterfinal bye and will play its first tournament game in the semifinals Friday, Nov. 7.
Women's soccer
Scorpions climb into tie for RRAC Lead
WAXAHACHIE - The UTB/TSC women stayed in the thick of the Red River Athletic Conference race with a 7-0 victory over Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
The Scorpions are 5-1 in the RRAC, a record equaled by Northwood and Texas Wesleyan. Overall, the Scorpions are 7-5-1.
NU, TWU and UTB/TSC each have one conference game remaining. Today, Northwood visits Bacone (3-3) and TWU visits University of the Southwest (0-6-1). The Scorpions meet USW on Nov. 1 in Hobbs, N.M.
If the three teams remain tied, they will be conference co-champs and tiebreakers will be needed to determine seeds for the RRAC Tournament in Fort Worth from Nov. 6 through 8.
"It's great to get two wins in a row on the road," Scorpions coach Nik Barjaktarevic said. "Now we're that much closer to our goal of winning the conference championship. We have to keep this momentum going."
Linette Cuvillier and Helen Wagstaff had two goals apiece for the Scorpions, who led 3-0 at half. Verena Wonsikowski and Sami Thorman each added goals.
"It's always tough to win on the road, no matter who you play," Barjaktarevic said. "Even though SAGU has not had much success this year, they were playing tough with us the entire game."
The shutout was the fifth for the Scorpions this year. Elizabeth Drake played goalkeeper.
