Falcons swoop win from Vaqueros

After a hard-fought battle at home tonight, the Air Force Academy Men’s Soccer Team defeated the Vaqueros 2-1, making UTRGV’s record (4-7-3 overall, 2-4-7 WAC) and the Falcons’ (6-4-2 overall, 5-0 WAC).

In the first half, the Vaqueros controlled the ball most of the time. 

With about 27 minutes into the first half, freshman defender Juan Pablo Gonzalez attempted the first shot on goal of the game, but Falcons goalkeeper John Byszewski saved it.

A minute later, Falcons senior midfielder Luke Hill put up the game’s first point, sending the ball into the lower left section of the goal.

UTRGV midfielder Yuzuf Cueceoglu attempted a shot that curved over the net and narrowly missed the goal shortly after.

Cueceoglu put up one shot and one assist.

With five minutes left in the first half, Vaqueros goalkeeper Simon Madsen saved two shots on goal.

Then, Falcons sophomore defender Kobey Stoup scored the second goal of the game.

The second half consisted of a fight for control. However, 37 minutes into the second half, UTRGV freshman forward Kgodiso Sukati scored the Vaqueros’ only goal with an assist by Cueceoglu.

Besides the goal, Sukati made one shot and one shot on goal.

“We started out slow,” said Bryheem Hancock, UTRGV Men’s Soccer Team coach. “And give credit to Air Force. They were good in transition. Obviously, they got two [goals] on transition. … The latter part of the second half, we got back to doing what we should have done from the beginning.”

Asked what he thought about the first half, Hancock replied, “I think, for us, it was a slow start. I don’t think it was [the] energy level. I think it was just sharpness, tactical awareness. Again, I give them credit. They did a good job of getting here and they were sticking to their game plan.”

U.S. Air Force Academy head coach Doug Hill said he liked the first half.

“We controlled the pace of the game and had a really good pace going on,” Hill said. “… We got back into the game in the second half and had way too many corners. [It] ended up costing us a goal. 

“We also left some on the table. We could have put away easily when we stole them off the passes. Overall, it’s a little harder to play here and on the road and stuff, so I was happy with the performance.”

Asked what he thought about the second half, Hill replied, “Second half, our midfield dropped on the possession and the Vaqueros actually had a little better play and moved the ball better.”

He said the wind played a factor in both halves, noting they had the ball more the first half and the Vaqueros had more control the second half.

Next up for the Vaqueros is a conference game against Grand Canyon University at noon Sunday at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.