SAN ANTONIO, Texas – An early red-card ejection couldn't slow a sizzling Texas A&M International attack as a 10-man Dustdevils dismantled Ouachita Baptist, 3-1, on Friday in San Antonio. The neutral-site match on the campus of St. Mary's University officially opened the season for TAMIU (1-0-0, 0-0-0 Heartland).

A flurry of second-half goals – one apiece by TAMIU's Ryan Hodgson, Tayeb Ahmadi and Robert Dominguez – decided the match, but the challenges began in the 12^th minute when starting right-back Oscar Pompa drew a straight red card for a studs-up tackle on the Tigers.

TAMIU was forced into a man disadvantage for the remaining 88 minutes. The Dustdevils trio of unanswered goals made the loss of Pompa – and his consequential suspension from TAMIU's next match – an easier pill to swallow. All three goals fell in a span of 33 minutes.

"Of course we are happy to begin our season with a victory," TAMIU men's soccer coach Claudio Arias said. "The team played well and adjusted well despite the early ejection.

"I am very proud of the team as a whole, and everyone should be proud of their efforts."

Hodgson broke the scoreless knot with a 53^rd-minute unassisted outclassing of OBU's backline. The 2013 Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year took on a pair of defenders before shattering the scoreline with his close-range strike. Twenty minutes later, Ahmadi – a French junior – punched his first goal of the season off an assisting through-ball from senior Jovany Macias.

Dominguez sealed the victory via his penalty kick conversion in the 86^th minute.

OBU stole a goal in the dying minutes of the match, converting a penalty kick of its own in the 89^th minute off Taylor Goyen's boot.

The Dustdevils nearly doubled OBU's shot total – lifting 13 shots goalward versus the Tigers' seven shots. Ahmadi led the attack with five shots while Eduardo Gonzalez attempted three and both Macias and Hodgson let two fly. Dominguez's only shot was from the penalty spot.

TAMIU goalkeeper Salomon Moctezume recorded four saves and missed out on his first clean sheet by about 90 seconds.

The Dustdevils now must travel to Canyon, Texas, to face West Texas A&M in a South Central Region rivalry on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tweet #DaleTAMIU

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Adam Geigerman,
Sports Information Director and Promotions Specialist
956-326-3007
AdamS.Geigerman@TAMIU.edu
www.GoDustdevils.com