UTB-TSC Capsules: Men's soccer team seeks national recognition
For a program still in its infancy, the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College men’s soccer team hasn’t displayed many growing pains.
The Scorpions will go into their third season of play with a 20-0 record against Red River Athletic Conference opponents and on the strength of a 15-5 2008 season with an appearance in the NAIA National tournament.
Despite the fact that conference wins have been easy to come by for the Scorpions, don’t expect the team to overlook its primary foes.
"Our first goal is to win the conference," UTB-TSC head coach Dan Balaguero said. "Every time we play a RRAC opponent we have a huge bull’s eye on our back. The guys have done a great job of remaining focused."
Staying focused paid dividends for the Scorpions last season as the team repeated as RRAC regular season champions and as RRAC tournament champions.
"Winning the conference and conference tourney for a second straight year was an unbelievable feeling," Balaguero said.
Conference honors aside, the Scorpions’ highest goal is to contend for a NAIA national championship and continue the program’s climb up the NAIA ranks.
"We are desperate to make a run at the national tournament and earn national recognition," Balaguero said. "You look at the NAIA Top 25 poll, and UTB-TSC will be in it at some point this fall."
Balaguero knows earning a spot among the nation’s top 25 teams has ramifications apart from earning respect or admiration, and he hopes to use a national ranking to improve his program.
"From a recruiting standpoint, we are seeing big dividends from being one of the top programs out there. We have great recruiting class coming in," Balaguero said.
The Scorpions’ soccer team will have an opportunity to impress NAIA top 25 poll voters this season with games against prestigious soccer teams such as the University of Mobile, Belhaven College and Southern Nazarene University.
"The RRAC schedule is a handful especially with the addition of OLLU (Our Lady of the Lake University). Throw Southern Naz (Nazarene), TAMIU, Mobile and Belhaven in the mix and it becomes very difficult," Balaguero said. "In order for us to make our move nationally we must challenge ourselves against the best."
Gamboa plays role of hometown hero
With five Red River Athletic Conference All-Conference players returning and talented newcomers joining them on the field, it may be difficult pinpointing the best player on the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College men’s soccer team.
Identifying the fan favorite, though, is likely less of a challenge.
Scorpions junior goalkeeper Juan Gamboa has become a rising star in NAIA men’s soccer, and that star was born in UTB-TSC’s back yard — Brownsville. Gamboa, a Pace graduate, returns in 2009 to lead the Scorpions in the goal and improve from a 2008 season that earned him second-team all-conference recognition. He said the thrill of playing college soccer in his hometown drives him to succeed.
"It feels great to know that most of the people that go to the games know who you are," Gamboa said. "I also enjoy playing in front of my parents, who never miss a home game. It makes me try my best in everything I do. I want the fans to see us score goals and not get scored on. So that is always in my mind during practice. It’s not just for me, it’s for UTB-TSC and our fans."
In 2008, Gamboa gave the fans something to savor as his 68 saves (80 percent of shots) and 0.94 goals allowed per game average helped pace a Scorpion squad that went 15-5, won the RRAC regular season championship, RRAC Tournament championship and made an appearance in the NAIA national tournament. UTB-TSC men’s soccer coach Dan Balaguero said Gamboa’s play was crucial for the Scorpions.
"Having someone as dependable as Juan is so important for us," Balaguero said. "A good keeper is the backbone of any team. We feel we have one of the best in the country in Juan and we always have a chance to win, as it is always a good possibility we will keep zero on the defensive end."
Balaguero also said he was fortunate to find a player as talented as Gamboa playing soccer in Brownsville.
"When I first saw him play (in 2007) I knew we had to get him," Balaguero said. "He is from a very close-knit family who attend all the homes games and many away games. He wanted to stay home, and it was huge bonus."
Balaguero anticipates Gamboa being named RRAC first-team all-conference and being a candidate for the NAIA All-American team in 2009. When asked what it was about Gamboa that created such lofty expectations, Balguero pointed out the goalkeeper’s work ethic and attitude.
"Juan is the total professional," Balaguero said. "His work ethic is second to none. All the players have the upmost respect for his ability and attitude. I would say he is one of the most disciplined athletes I have ever worked with, and he is a scholar who is well-known and respected in the community."
UTB-TSC men's soccer receives top billing
The Red River Athletic Conference preseason rankings were released this week, and the UTB-TSC men’s soccer team received a No. 1 ranking. The team also received 36 votes in the preseason NAIA poll but did not make the top 25.
The Scorpions men's soccer squad beat out its first regular-season opponent, Huston-Tillotson, for the No. 1 ranking in the RRAC. UTB-TSC will play Huston-Tillotson at 7 p.m. Aug. 26. Scorpions men's soccer coach Dan Balaguero said the honor of being named the top team in the RRAC is rewarding for his team and said he was not concerned with missing out on the NAIA top 25.
"It's great to be at the top of the first RRAC rankings, and I expect us to make several apperences this year in the NAIA top 25 poll," Balaguero said. "My only concern is how we can get better and ready for Huston-Tillotson in eight days."
The UTB-TSC women's soccer squad also found the top half of the RRAC rankings with a No. 3 start in the conference poll, and UTB-TSC women's volleyball was ranked No. 5. The RRAC rankings are released each Monday throughout the season.
