Scorpion soccer squads ready for season

The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College men's and women's soccer teams are drawing ever closer to their season openers.

The UTB-TSC women played their final scrimmage in the rain Sunday afternoon at Brownsville's Morningside Park and suffered a 4-0 loss to Tec de Monterrey of Mexico. The score was 1-0 at halftime.

The Scorpion men are scheduled to travel to Laredo today for their final scrimmage against Texas A&M International University at 7 p.m.

The UTB-TSC men open the season at 7 p.m. Friday in Houston against St. Thomas University, while the Scorpion women play their season opener at 4 p.m. Sunday at Morningside Park against Texas A&M International.

In scrimmages last week, the UTB-TSC women prevailed over the Celtics of Harlingen 4-2, while the Scorpion men were edged 1-0 by Deportivo Alvarez of McAllen.

"I'm happy with the way we are playing," UTB-TSC men's soccer coach Dan Balaguero said. "The attitude and work rate from the guys has been great, also.

"We faced a good team from McAllen (in our scrimmage)," he added. "We played well and dominated the game, but just couldn't score."

Balaguero said midfielder Jose Galvan of San Benito, midfielder Steve Howard of England and defender Darren O'Connor of Ireland have had strong showings thus far in the preseason along with Dave Purser and Brian Hardie, both defenders from England.

He said Antonio Vernaschi (knee), Enrique "Chicle" Rivera (knee) and Chris Scott (groin) are nursing injuries.

A scheduled women's scrimmage this week between UTB-TSC and the McAllen Border Bandits has been canceled, so the Scorpions are now focusing on Sunday's season opener.

"Julia Dell' Aguila and Linette Cuvillier are working well together in the attack," UTB-TSC women's soccer coach Nikola "Nik" Barjaktarevic said. "Milica Mihajlovic and Helen Wagstaff are getting better possession for us in the midfield and are working on improving their fitness.

"We are also happy to have two quality goalkeepers who are both doing well - Stephanie Reid and Liz Drake," he added. "It also helps to have someone experienced like Carling Rootes in the back to help hold our defense together.

"Everyone is working hard, and it's the teamwork we are looking for that in the end will ensure we are in the (NAIA) national tournament in Daytona Beach (Fla.) in December."