LAREDO, Texas – A top-20 matchup concluded the TAMIU Men's Soccer Fall Invitational presented by WestWind Homes on Sunday at the TAMIU Soccer Complex, but it was the center official that boasted the biggest impact. A pair of red cards – one in the 15th minute and another in the 78th – amputated any chance the No. 6 Dustdevils (3-1-0, 0-0-0 Heartland) had of a positive result against the No. 20 Fort Lewis College (2-2-0).
"We had to play with 10 men for about 80 minutes, but it was the second red that manipulated the entire match," TAMIU head coach Claudio Arias said. "The match was very winnable, even with 10 men, before the official lost control and overreacted. Everything was taken away by foolish mistakes"
"A lot of credit goes to Fort Lewis, but this was a match that was not decided by either of the two teams."
The match featured six total goals and wide open, exhilarating play when center official Gregorio Garza didn't whistle stoppages and raise cards. The Skyhawks claimed the eventual 4-2 victory, climaxing with four goals falling in the six-minute span between the 77th and 83rd minutes.
An unsportsmanlike action saw Joaquin Diaz off in the 15th minute, but it was a soft challenge on a 50-50 ball that shifted the match's tide. Substitute Norman Ramos was sent off on just his second touch of the match in the 78th minute after challenging his Fort Lewis counterpart on a 50-50 ball along the near touchline.
The Skyhawks beat the Dustdevils to a 2-0 lead by the hour mark of the match, with both goals being produced by free headers during corner kicks. The 9-man Dustdevils again gave up a goal in the 77th minute, opening an exciting avalanche of attacking play.
In the 81st minute, TAMIU senior captain Jovany Macias took on four Fort Lewis defenders inside the 18-yard box. After beating three off the dribble, the fourth rode Macias to the ground to produce a penalty kick. Macias converted his own 12-yard spot kick for his second goal of the season.
Exactly two minutes later, TAMIU again attacked and drew another free kick – this time from 24-yards out. With Macias' powerful strike ricocheting off the wall, sophomore forward Funcia Kenneh swallowed the rebound with one touch and buried his first goal just inside the far post.
The comeback was collapsed almost immediately, though, as the Skyhawks scored just two seconds later by dissecting the Dustdevils backline and beating TAMIU goalkeeper Solomon Moctezume.
Moctezume made two saves behind his depleted team, while Macias launched two of the Dustdevils seven total shots.
"Our players showed their resilience against Fort Lewis," Arias said. "That's what I hope everyone takes away from this match. The challenges that were presented and the way that TAMIU kept pressuring and playing in a way that the team should be proud of."
The Dustdevils return to action against St. Edward's at the TAMIU Soccer Complex on Sept. 17 in a Heartland Conference opener featuring the two co-Champions from 2013. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Adam Geigerman,
Sports Information Director and Promotions Specialist
956-326-3007
AdamS.Geigerman@TAMIU.edu
?www.GoDustdevils.com
