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DURANGO, Colo. – After scoring just three goals in its first two matches, Texas A&M International took 90 minutes to double its season total against the University of Mary on the campus of Fort Lewis on Saturday.
The Dustdevils (1-2, 0-0 Heartland) sealed a 3-1 victory by way of a brace off the boots of senior Diego Manzano-Cano and a single strike by senior Adrian Elicerio. Manzano-Cano’s pair doubled his season total to four goals, while it was Elicerio’s second on-point strike of the season.
Manzano-Cano, a Madrid, Spain, native, struck nylon in the 10th minute off a service from team captain Arturo Gutierrez, who notched his first assist of his senior campaign. It took nearly 55 minutes for Manzano-Cano to unlock the Marauders’ defense for a second time. His final strike seized the lead back for the Dustdevils after the University of Mary’s Jordan Pearce netted the team’s only goal in the 56th minute.
Manzano-Cano took the ball through the Marauders’ backline, finishing his brace two minutes before Elicerio’s 65th minute finish off an Eduardo Gonzalez (Alexander High) assist effectively ended the match.
TAMIU goalkeeper Jesus Cisneros maintained the Dustdevils lead with a quartet of sprawling saves after the allowing the Marauders’ only goal. University of Mary blasted 15 shots in the match, but only a handful were on frame, threatening Cisneros’ net.
Cisneros (70th minute), senior center back Joan Vallejo (17th), and Jonathan Saldana (80th) were shown yellow cards, while James Liddiard (82nd) and Jonathon Sellars (90th) were cautioned for the Marauders.
TAMIU will remain on the road until Sept. 27 with matches against Fort Lewis College on Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m., Eastern New Mexico on Sept. 19 and West Texas A&M on Sept. 21. The Dustdevils will play Heartland Conference rival St. Mary’s on Sept. 27 at the TAMIU Soccer Complex.
