Looking to bounce back after Sunday night’s scoreless draw, the UTRGV Men’s Soccer Team obtained its redemption Monday night, defeating St. Edward’s University 4-0 at home.
The Vaqueros went into Monday night’s exhibition game with the mentality of recuperating from the deadlock against Texas A&M International University.
UTRGV came out hungrier, faster and smarter than ever before. Head Coach Paul Leese said he saw a change in the team’s mentality.
“To go from, realistically, a poor performance last night to what I thought … was a very strong performance tonight, that gave me a lot of pleasure because I’m hoping it means they listened, they understood and they were able to put it into practice,” Leese said. “And I think putting it into practice is the most difficult.”
On the field, the Vaqueros demonstrated what they were taught by putting it into practice. The team displayed its chemistry in the way it played. The Vaqueros used the chemistry as an opportunity to score the first goal of the season.
UTRGV senior forward Isaiah Hinds put the goal in the net with an assist by UTRGV junior midfielder Dimitris Strantzalis. Strantzalis passed the ball from the right side of the field to Hinds, who was in the center of the goalie box. The Vaqueros now led the game 1-0 with only seven minutes into the game.
Hinds was elated.
“I was very happy to score the first goal of the match,” said Hinds, a management major. “After last night’s game, we were all coming in with a different mentality, including myself.”
One goal was not enough for the Vaqueros. Twelve minutes later, junior midfielder Angel Lopez ran with the ball from midfield toward center field, taking down several defenders. He positioned himself in the middle of the box and took his shot.
The ball curved in, bounced off the right post and hit the back of the net. The Vaqueros went into halftime leading 2-0 over St. Edward’s.
Coming into the second half, the Vaqueros looked to continue strong. Twenty-five minutes into the second half, junior forward Kyle Edwards received a pass at the top of the box and put it behind the net. Five minutes later, came the fourth and final goal of the night from junior forward Sergio Loredo Jr., who received an assist from Edwards.
The team will look to acquire more victories at the Houston Baptist University Invitational, scheduled Friday through Monday. The Vaqueros will face Saint Francis University and Siena College.
UTRGV junior forward Kyle Edwards (left) advances on the field against St. Edward’s University defender JC Sustaita (right) while UTRGV junior forward Jaako Hietikko offers support at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex. PHILLIP D. GARCIA/THE RIDER
