Scorpions Open Season with 3-0 Victory on Road over St. Thomas
 Posted August 29, 2008

HOUSTON -- The UTB/TSC men's soccer team opened the new season with a 3-0 victory over St. Thomas University Friday, August 29, in the first UST Soccer Classic.

The Scorpions stay in Houston for a 7 p.m. game Saturday against William Carey University (Miss.) at St. Thomas.

"Anytime we go on the road and win, especially in the season opener, it's great," Scorpion head coach Dan Balaguero said. "It was a difficult environment, because they had a great crowd. It was a great performance all around. All in all, I'm really happy and excited to go back at it tomorrow."

The Scorpions took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute on a header by Darren O'Connor off a corner kick by Steve Howard. The game remained 1-0 at halftime.

In the 80th minute, Filiberto Cortinas scored with an assist by Brian Hardie to make it 2-0. The Scorpions scored again late in the 87th minute on a goal by Jose Galvan with an assist by Ricky Rodriguez. Galvan and Rodriguez are graduates of San Benito High School.

The Scorpions had nine shots on goal. Scorpion goalkeeper Juan Gamboa, who played all 90 minutes, had seven saves.

The Scorpions played the second half with only 10 players after Enrique Rivera received his second yellow card. Rivera will not play in Saturday's game.

It's only the second year for the Scorpions to compete in NAIA men's soccer. In its first year in the NAIA, the Scorpions went 14-5-1 and won the Red River Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships.

After Saturday's game, the Scorpions begin their home season September 6-7 with a two-game series against 'St. Thomas University and Oklahoma Baptist University at Morningside Park.