Shorthanded Dustdevils Upended by UTPB

Box Score ODESSA, Texas – The TAMIU men’s soccer team’s two year conference winning streak finally came to a halt Thursday night.

Playing without the services of three starters as well as Head Coach Claudio Arias, the Dustdevils suffered a surprising 2-0 loss to UT-Permian Basin. The last time the Dustdevils lost to a conference foe was on September 26, 2010 in a 2-0 loss to St. Edward’s.

In their last match versus Oklahoma Christian, senior midfielder Adan Villavicencio was given a questionable red card for a routine tackle keeping him out of tonight’s match. After disputing the call, Coach Arias was also given a red card, his first-ever ejection at a home venue. They were joined by senior midfielder Elkin Marin-Tobar, who received two yellow cards versus Oklahoma Christian and junior right back Joan Vallejo, who was forced to sit after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season.

Gary Willis and Tyler Gibson each contributed a goal for the Falcons as UTPB won their fifth straight. At 3-0, the Falcons are now the only team remaining without a loss in conference play. TAMIU slipped to 2-4-2 on the season and 1-1-1 in conference.

The Dustdevils were outshot 15-10 in the match, including a 7-3 disadvantage in shots on goal. Jovany Macias finished with three shots, one on goal, while Diego Manzano-Cano finished with two. Cano, last year’s Heartland Conference offensive player of the year, has yet to score a goal this season. TAMIU keeper Jesus Cisneros finished with five saves, while his season record slipped to 2-4-1.

The Dustdevils will look to regroup as they head to Abilene, Texas on Saturday to take on the McMurry War Hawks at 3 p.m.

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