Scorpions win 2-0 to advance to conference title game

FORT WORTH - The first part of the mission is complete for the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College men's soccer team at the Red River Athletic Conference Soccer Tournament.

The Scorpions won their semifinal 2-0 over host Texas Wesleyan on Friday and will play for the championship at 5:30 p.m. today against Huston-Tillotson.

After a scoreless first half, the Scorpions came out strong in the second half with a goal in the second minute and a flurry of shots the rest of the way.

UTB/TSC (14-4) won its ninth straight game and recorded its ninth shutout of the season.

"It was a great performance. I feel it was the best we have played in two seasons from the first minute to the last," Scorpions coach Dan Balaguero said. "We were hungry, desperate and efficient. The two goals were top-story/">top-story/">top-story/">top-story/">top-story/">top-story/">top-story/">top quality, worthy of winning any game."

After a scoreless first half, the Scorpions came out energized. In quick-strike fashion, Steve Howard fired a crisp pass to Juan Nava, who scored from about 15 yards out to break the scoreless tie only one minute into the half.

Eight minutes later, Draion McNain rocketed a shot into the left side of the goal from the right corner with an assist by Fernando Mendoza to make it 2-0.

TWU held a 6-4 advantage in shots during the first half, but the Scorpions took command in the second, outshooting the Rams 15-3.

Two TWU players received red cards in the second half, forcing the Rams to finish the game with nine players. There were 52 fouls called, 30 against TWU and 22 against the Scorpions.

One of the fouls, in the 66th minute, temporarily stunned Scorpions goalkeeper Juan Gamboa, who was hit in the head at the top-story/">top-story/">top-story/">top-story/">top-story/">top-story/">top-story/">top of the box while grabbing the ball.

With Gamboa on the ground and no trainer to assist him, Balaguero went onto the field to check on his goalkeeper and received a red card. He was outside the fence for the final 24 minutes and will not be on the bench for today's title game. Assistant Andy Ravanello will coach the team today.

"Juan was head-butted and was obviously struggling with a head injury," Balaguero said. "I just went to see if he was OK as we did not have trainer with us. I did not say a word to the referee, and he just showed me the red card. It is what it is. I never speak with officials and have never been sent off as a player or coach."

A win in today's game sends the Scorpions to the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament on Nov. 22 against an opponent to be determined.

Scorpions drop heartbreaker to Northwood

FORT WORTH - For coach Nik Barjaktarevic and the UTB/TSC women's soccer team, it felt like it wasn't supposed to end this way.

Northwood University scored on a free kick from 35 yards out with five minutes remaining in the game to break a 1-1 tie and defeat the Scorpions 2-1 in the senifinals of the Red River Athletic Conference Soccer Tournament on Friday, ending the Scorpions' season.

"We're very disappointed in the result of the game," Barjaktarevic said. "We played hard, but it came down to Northwood making the shots they needed to make."

The Scorpions (8-6-1) were regular season co-champions with Northwood and Texas Wesleyan.

UTB/TSC was down 1-0 after the first 33 seconds of the game on a goal by Angelica Mendoza that eluded Scorpion goalkeeper Stephanie Reid.

"We showed a lot of character coming back after we got behind 1-0 at the beginning," Barjaktarevic said. "But we'll be back strong next year, and have a bunch of new recruits. Our inexperience with eight freshmen starting showed, but they got a lot of experience and played in a lot of big games this year."

During the 20th minute in the first half, the Scorpions tied it after a beautifully placed corner kick by Sara DiBenedetto went right to Verena Wonsikowski, who headed into the right side of the net.

UTB/TSC outshot Northwood 14-12, and each team had six shots on goal.

Northwood advances to face TWU, which defeated Texas College 4-0 in the other semifinal, in the conference championship game tonight.

Wiley rallies to beat Scorpions 3-1 in volleyball

Red River Athletic Conference South Zone leader Wiley College rallied for a 3-1 win over the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College on Friday at Manuel Garza B. Gymnasium.

The Scorpions (7-22, 5-5) surprised Wiley (29-7, 10-1) in the first set, taking a 25-18 victory, before the Wildcats bounced back to take the next three sets, 25-16, 25-15, 25-17,

Jeanne O'Leary led the Scorpions with 12 kills, and Chelsea Spadaro had 11 and 13 assists. Jenny Soto led in assists with 24. Anayeli Trevino had 24 digs and O'Leary added 12.

UTB/TSC ends the regular season with two home matches today at Garza Gymnasium. The Scorpions play host to Jarvis Christian College at 10 a.m. and Texas College at 2 p.m.