Scorpions Record Fourth Shutout of Season in 2-0 Conference Win
Posted October 4, 2008
Freshman Steve Howard scored his first two goals of the season and they were enough to lead UTB/TSC to a 2-0 win over Northwood University in a Red River Athletic Conference men's soccer game Saturday, October 4, at Morningside Park.

The defending RRAC champion Scorpions improved to 6-4 for the season and stay atop the RRAC standings with a 2-0 record. Northwood was playing its first RRAC game and is now 4-5, 0-1.

"Steve Howard was magnificent from the first minute to the last, his two goals were the icing on the cake for him," Scorpion head coach Dan Balaguero said. "I'm happy to win, the performance was below average but at the end of the day we win with a shutout."

The shutout was the fourth recorded by the Scorpion defensive unit. Goalkeeper Juan Gamboa, who has played every minute of all 10 Scorpion games, has a .40 shutout-per-game average that ranks among the top 15 in the country.

Howard scored his first goal after a lot of activity inside the Northwood box. Draion McNain and Filiberto Cortinas were credited with the assists on the goal that came with eight seconds left in the first half, giving the Scorpions a 1-0 halftime lead.

Howard's second goal came with 4:57 left in the game after Ricky Rodriguez was fouled inside the box and had a penalty kick opportunity. Rodriguez' kick glanced off Northwood goalkeeper Michael Crawford and into a position where Howard was able to punch it into the right side of the goal for the 2-0 lead.

UTB/TSC outshot the Knights, 24-9, and had an 11-4 advantage on shots on goal. Gamboa had four saves.

The Scorpions are back at Morningside Park Wednesday, October 8 to face Texas Wesleyan University in a Red River Athletic Conference showdown. UTB/TSC defeated Texas Wesleyan in the 2007 RRAC Tournament championship game and also eliminated the Rams in the NAIA playoffs last November.