Nov. 6, 2009

Final Stats

Texas A&M International University turned in one of its best efforts of the season on Friday night in front of 345 enthusiastic fans at Dustdevil Field. The result of that effort was a 2-1 win over St. Edward's, a team that entered the contest having already clinched the Heartland Conference regular season title.

Theo Brown scored the game-winner for TAMIU (6-8-3, 5-2-2 Heartland) on a 15-yard right to left shot into the net in the 84th minute. The goal was set up when Carlos García Jr. redirected a free kick to the awaiting Brown.

The Dustdevils took a 1-0 lead on a successful penalty kick by Roy Hernández in the 19th minute. That would be the only score for either team in the first half. Bryan VanCura evened the score for SEU (7-8-2, 7-2) with a beautiful header into the net in the 48th minute.

The game was evenly played with St. Edward's finishing with a slight 17-16 edge in shots taken. Both teams finished with four corner kicks apiece. TAMIU goalkeeper Luis Rincon finished with nine saves compared to six saves for SEU keeper Matt Moore.

Rincon made his most important save in the 64th minute when he pushed a short-range blast from John Calandro just left of the goal. That thrilling save prevented a go-ahead goal by the Hilltoppers and seemed to rejuvenate the Dustdevil offense.

TAMIU narrowly missed a goal in the 68th minute when Hernández pushed the ball just left of the net. The Dustdevils kept up the pressure, however, leading to Brown's game-winning goal 16 minutes later.

TAMIU will conclude the season on Sunday with a game against Incarnate Word. A win in that contest would secure a second place finish for the Dustdevils in the final Heartland Conference regular season standings.