Vaqueros put the Rebels in line

The UTRGV Men’s Soccer Team defeated the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebels 3-2 tonight in its first Western Athletic Conference game at the Soccer and Track & Field Complex on the Edinburg campus.

The Vaqueros now have an overall record of 4–4 and 1-0 in conference.

With tonight’s victory, the Rebels’ record became 2-5-2 overall and 0-1 in conference.

Less than 10 minutes into the game, UTRGV’s sophomore forward Kgodiso Sukati posted the first goal of the night on a penalty kick after UNLV’s junior defender Cesar Carbajal committed a foul during a fight for ball control against Vaqueros graduate student forward Bryant Farkarlun.

Vaqueros graduate midfielder Reda Ikarrain scored the second penalty kick goal 16:54 minutes into the game after another foul was called on Carbajal.

“Anytime you’re … able to get two goals early in the game to take control of the game, I think [it] really helps,” UTRGV Men’s Soccer head coach Bryheem Hancock said in a postgame interview. “I think the energy of the group, the guys that came on in the first half, when they got one back to get the third [goal] right before halftime, honestly it became really valuable ‘cause that helped us get the game win, as well.”

Freshman midfielder Kai Merrill scored the first goal for the Rebels at minute 32, giving the team a boost to fight to the finish of the first half.

Sophomore defender Juan Pablo Gonzalez earned UTRGV’s third goal less than eight minutes after.

“I’m always ready for the rebound, like, I need to make the run every time I see a shot,” Gonzalez said. “Fortunately, I get the rebound in the moment and make the team get the win.”

Rebels senior midfielder Michael Vogel scored the sole goal of the second half with an assist by freshman  midfielder Lucas Gélébart in the 62nd minute of the game.

The Rider asked Hancock what he thought when the Rebels scored in the second half.

“I watched [the Rebels] play several games now and they don’t quit,” he said. “They play a good style. Their guys, you know, compete and they were able to get a goal. It was a good buildup for them.

“But … we created more chances. … One of our guys was close in knocking one in at the back post, as well, and in that same 10-minute span, we hit the crossbar. … It’s a game of goals, right? And for us, it’s about getting three points, which we were able to do tonight.”

The Vaqueros have seven games remaining until they begin the WAC tournament on Nov. 5 inLas Vegas. Of those matches, three will be at home, including a conference match against Utah Tech University at noon Sunday at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex on the Edinburg campus.

“[Utah Tech’s] done very well this season,” Hancock said. “[They’re] a team that we’ve always had battles with, and we just have to be ready to match energy, first. You know, some of the careless mistakes that we got punished on, we gotta clean up in the next two days and just be ready to go at home.”