Men's Soccer 8/27/2012 3:56:00 PM

Men's Soccer Opens With Huge Test

Damir Turko

LAREDO, TX - The Texas A&M International University men’s soccer team picked up right where they left off last season, opening up the year with back to back exhibition wins over the Laredo Heat and Monterrey Tech. Now with the regular season opener on the horizon the Dustdevils must buckle down and embrace for one of their toughest stretches of the season.

It’s no secret that TAMIU has been the dominant men’s team in the Heartland Conference over the last two seasons, but that hasn’t helped them reach their ultimate goal of reaching the national tournament. The Dustdevils were closer than ever in the 2011 season, earning their first ever national ranking and going a perfect 8-0 in conference play. Losses to regional foes Incarnate Word and Midwestern State early in the year proved to be too much for the Dustdevils to overcome, and TAMIU was left on the outside looking in for the second straight season. Head Coach Claudio Arias says the last two seasons have left a bittersweet taste in his mouth.

“It’s always a nice accomplishment when you win the conference and bring recognition to the school, but over the last two seasons we’ve accomplished only one of our two major goals. We are always working to accomplish more and we feel like this season we have the talent and the determination to finally break through.”

The 2012 season presents a vastly different landscape for the Dustdevils to traverse. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) is the newest member of the South Central Region joining the Heartland and Lone Star Conferences. In order for the men’s soccer team to receive a berth in the national tournament they must finish as one of the top three teams in the region. When the 2012 preseason national poll was released earlier this month, TAMIU was inexplicably not featured in the top 25, although they did receive a few votes. Currently, they trail Fort Lewis College (2011 national champions), Incarnate Word (2011 national tournament participant), Midwestern State (2011 national tournament participant), and Metro State in the national rankings.

“With the RMAC coming in it makes things harder from a qualification stand point,” said Coach Arias. “I think there are so many competitive teams in the conference that it’s going to be a very difficult decision for the committee to make when the regular season ends. On our end we have to be ready to play at our full potential every time we step on the pitch. We cannot afford to make major mistakes if we want to advance to the next level.”

For the men’s team, the first few weeks of the season will set the stage for their chances at a national tournament berth. The Dustdevils open their schedule Friday August 31, going on the road to battle the no. 14 team in the country, Midwestern State University. It’s the same Midwestern State team that knocked TAMIU out of the national tournament last season with a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in double overtime.

“The loss last year versus Midwestern stung and we have waited one year to exact our revenge,” said Coach Arias. “They are a difficult team but they are not unbeatable. We are prepared to play as hard as we can in order to make sure we avenge our loss last season.”

But the fun doesn’t stop there! Following the game versus Midwestern, the Dustdevils will head north to Colorado to take on Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foes (RMAC) Metro State University and Colorado School of Mines.
The men will finally get a chance to play on their home field on September 14, but once again they take on Midwestern State in what could be their final opportunity to increase their regional ranking. Coach Arias says this contest is one where they really need the support of the fans and the community.

“The gravity of this game will depend on the results of our first three, but if things go according to plan, this could be another huge chance for us to move up in the rankings. If we can pack the house it will greatly improve our chances of getting a favorable result. By this point in the season we will have a much better idea of what we are capable of as a team and we are confident that we will be successful.”

Once the team has completed this incredibly difficult non-conference slate, they must go undefeated through their conference schedule in order to have a shot at the national tournament.

“Going undefeated through conference is no easy task,” said Coach Arias. “After winning back-to-back conference titles, every one of our competitors will be playing their best soccer when they face us. No one wants to see us three-peat as champions, but we are confident that we will be.”

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