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LAREDO, Texas – In an eerie example of déjà vu, Texas A&M International saw a men’s soccer match end with a 1-0 score line as a red-card reduced 10-man team. This time, the Dustdevils reigned victorious in the 1-0 affair after freshman forward Ryan Hodgson found the net for the third time this season.
As opposed to Sept. 29’s match against Midwestern State, the Dustdevils defeated Heartland Conference provisional member Rogers State on Saturday at the TAMIU Soccer Complex after a sending off of a midfielder. TAMIU’s Adrian Elicerio received his second yellow card in the 79th minute for wasting time after being substituted, thus registering a red card and a one-game suspension from center official Ricardo Mercado.
Jonathan Saldana was red carded against Midwestern State for two yellows, and had to sit the Rogers State match out.
But the one-man disadvantage didn’t dwindle any of the Dustdevils’ attack. TAMIU outshot the visiting Hillcats 11-7. Incidentally, Elicerio was one of the most active Dustdevils before being ejected. He rifled a trio of shots – one on frame – toward Joey Arnold’s Roger State goal.
Defender Yamin Olavarrieta and Hodgson each threw two shots toward goal, but it was Hodgson’s 38th minute strike from the top of the 18-yard box that buried the result for TAMIU (3-5-1, 1-0-0 Heartland).
Hodgson pulled a loose ball into his control from just right-of-center, taking two timid touches before surprising Arnold with a strike that stroked the nylon without being touched. It was his third tally of the season after scoring against Drury and St. Mary’s. The Englishman didn’t start the match, but played 67 minutes as the game-winning goal scorer.
The shutout stands as the Dustdevils first cleansheet of the season, dating back nearly a year to a 5-0 victory over St. Mary’s on Oct. 31, 2012. TAMIU goalkeeper Jesus Cisneros faced five shots on goal and recorded all five saves.
Rogers State falls to 2-5-0 (0-1-0 Heartland) with the loss.
The Dustdevils will look for the third victory in four matches and a perfect conference record as they host Heartland foe Newman on Oct. 7 at noon at the TAMIU Soccer Complex.
