Scorpions claim third straight RRAC crown

No. 14 University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College won the Red River Athletic Conference for the third time Saturday, 2-1 over Our Lady of the Lake.

The Scorpions now advance to the NAIA national men’s soccer championship, and will play an opening round game Saturday, Nov. 21. UTB-TSC will find out Tuesday if it will remain among the top 15 teams in the country and play host to the game.

The Scorpions (17-0-1) remained unbeaten as OLLU, the third-seed in the tournament, finished at 12-7.

"To win the conference and conference tournament for a third straight year is incredible,"　Scorpions head coach Dan Balaguero said. "My hat goes off to all the players.　"

The run through the RRAC over a three-year period has been more than incredible. UTB-TSC won eight conference games, one non-conference game over an RRAC opponent, and two tournament games, counting Friday’s 2-0 win over Texas College, for an unblemished 11-0 record.

Counting the first two years of dominance over the RRAC, the Scorpions have won 31 games against conference opponents without a loss.

"I’m thrilled for all the boys. They have been tremendous since the first day of preseason," Balaguero said. "The guys are not only great players and great people but they are also winners, who are desperate to succeed."

Steve Howard scored the first goal　with　18:16 left　in the first half　off a corner kick by Robin Edjeholm. In the second half,　Aaron Guerrero　scored on a breakaway　with an assist by Evans Frimpong with 22:54 left in the game.

The Scorpions almost had a shutout, but OLLU scored with 1:11 left in the game on a penalty kick by Tomas Flores.

Host sites for the opening round will be announced Nov. 15.

"This year has been so special, we can’t wait for the first round of the national tournament," Balaguero said.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

UTB-TSC women claim spot in national tourney with RRAC win

The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College women’s soccer team found a beautiful way to end a beautiful day for the Scorpions Saturday in Fort Worth.

Sara Di Benedetto’s goal during the first half stood up as the Scorpions blanked Our Lady of the Lake 1-0 to win the Red River Athletic Conference championship at Martin Field.

The Scorpions (11-4-2) now advance to the opening rund of the NAIA national tournament. They will play Nov. 21 against an opponent and at a site to be determined. OLLU, playing in its first season in the RRAC, finished 9-7-2.

UTB-TSC dominated the game, getting off 25 shots compared to only five for the Saints. The Scorpions had 11 shots on goal, and OLLU had one.

"It was the best final that you could have imagined," Scorpions coach Nik Barjaktarevic said. "It was a tremendous job by the entire team. We played great on offense and defense."

The defensive pressure stopped any serious chances by OLLU.　

"It was a tremendous job by the whole defense," Barjaktarevic said. "When we defend, we defend with all 11 on the field."

Chelsea Maidment, who plays defensive right position, was making long passes all night long to the Scorpion forwards. During the 35th minute, she lofted one to Di Benedetto, who found the net from about 15 yards out for the first goal.

It turned out that would be all the Scorpions needed.

OLLU came close to scoring in the second half, but a pass from the right side went to a Saints player who thought she had scored, but the referee ruled that she was inside the line at the net.

"Everybody was on the roster who could play played today, and that was big for us," Barjaktarevic said. "Every single player contributed to the win."

Di Benedetto scored two goals in the tournament. She had one during the Scorpions’ 4-2 win over Texas Wesleyan in Friday’s semifinals.

The next step is the opening-round game, something Barjaktarevic is looking forward to, since it is his first trip to a national tourney.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Scorpions win 26th straight match, complete undefeated RRAC season

The No. 9 University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College capped off an amazing 2009 regular season with a convincing 3-0 victory over Texas Wesleyan in Red River Athletic Conference play Saturday in Fort Worth.

The Scorpions finished the regular season 29-1, 16-0 in conference, and riding a 26-match winning streak.

UTB-TSC will be the top seed in the RRAC women’s volleyball tournament Friday and Saturday in Fort Worth.

Arlene Ferreira led the Scorpions’ attack with 15 kills on 25 attempts with two errors for a .520 hitting percentage. Judith Boel contributed 12 kills on 26 attempts and one error for a .423 hitting percentage.

Erica Chimak added nine kills and Valquiria Caboclo had seven. Senior setter Daianarah Bracero had 41 assists, which tied her season high for a three-set match.

Defensively, Ferreira had 16 digs and Rafaella Dornelas had 11.

The Scorpions, ranked fourth in the nation in hitting percentage, had 46 kills on 101 attacks with 10 errors for a .356 hitting percentage.