LIVE STATS | MATCH NOTES

LAREDO, Texas (October 17, 2017) – The Texas A&M International University men's soccer team begins its four-match home stand to finish the 2017 regular season on Thursday, Oct. 19, welcoming Rogers State to Dustdevil Soccer Field. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m.
 
The Dustdevils (6-4-2, 5-4-1 HC) return home for the final time in 2017 after dropping a 2-0 decision to UT Permian Basin on Saturday. Claudio Arias has seen his team play some of their best soccer at the friendly confines of the Dustdevil Soccer Field including a win over nationally ranked St. Edward's.  RSU (6-5-3, 3-4-3 HC) has earned five points over their past three matches to put themselves back in contention for a tournament spot after dropping three straight.
 
Live stats will be provided for Thursday's match but a full recap can be found at www.GoDustdevils.com following the match. Follow the Dustdevils on Instagram and Twitter for an in-depth look into the program and the latest scores and updates.
 
A LOOK AT THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Thursday's match will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs with the Hillcats holding a 2-1-1 advantage. TAMIU is 1-0-1 at home against RSU.
 
A LOOK AT THE HILLCATS
Derek Larkin (104-74-22) brings the Hillcats to Laredo in need of a victory as RSU currently sits seventh in the conference table three points out of fifth. RSU enters the final two weeks of matches in fine form defensively having allowed only one goal over the past three matches while the offense is still looking to score goals on a consistent basis.
 
The Hillcats' offense is lead by Jordan Watson, Jake Simpson and Jaxon Pitt as the trio has combined for eight goals and two assists through 14 matches this season. Simpson has had a tough going in his junior season scoring just three times after earning 1^st Team All-Conference honors and 2^nd Team All-Region honors in 2016. Pitt has had an impressive freshman campaign scoring three goals while Watson had contributed two goals and two assists. Noah Robson, Declan Fitzpatrick and Kevin Kwarteng have a team-high three assists apiece as RSU has 14 assists on 20 goals.
 
Much like the Dustdevils, the Hillcats have used two goalkeepers with Walker Farrar and Cody Gammill getting starts between the pipes. Farrar has been the starter for the past four matches making 21 saves including eight in a 1-1 draw with third-ranked Midwestern State last Friiday. The Topeka, Kan. native has recorded a shutout in three of his seven starts in 2017.
 
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Junior goalkeeper Carlos Herrera ranks seventh nationally in save percentage (.857) while the team ranks 16^th in the same category. The San Leandro, Calif. native also ranks 14^th in goals against average (.632).
 
Rafael Montabes ranks 31^st in the nation and first in the Heartland Conference in shots per game (3.82). Alan Rivera ranks 141^st with 2.67 shots per game.
 
The Dustdevils are 3-0-1 in conference play and 4-0-1 overall when they score first with the only drawing coming against Dallas Baptist on Sept. 16.
 
Scoring twice has been nice for TAMIU as they are 4-0-0 when they score two goals but are 0-3-0 when they allow two goals.
 
TAMIU CONTROLS THEIR OWN DESTINY
Win and you're in. That is the scenario for the Dustdevils men's soccer team heading into the final four matches of the season as they currently sit fourth with 16 points one point ahead of St. Mary's and UTPB in fifth. TAMIU controls their own destiny as four wins over the next two weeks (something that hasn't happened since 2014) would guarantee them at least fourth place an opportunity to host a quarterfinal match.
 
LOOKING FOR A BREAKTHROUGH
Montabes has had an impressive junior campaign at TAMIU where the Madrid, Spain product leads the team in shots (42) and assists (3) while ranking second in shots on-goal (16). He is the only player on TAMIU with 10 or more shots on-goal (Michael Iskander, Alan Rivera) without a goal as the 6-4 forward is still looking to add to the six he scored as sophomore in 2016.
 
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
After having only played three matches at Dustdevil Soccer Field through 13 matches this season, TAMIU will finish the regular season with four straight home matches. It is the first time since 2007 that Arias has had the luxury of hosting four matches in a row to end a season.
 
HEARTLAND IN THE RANKINGS
Midwestern State dropped one spot in the latest United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Men's National Poll released on Tuesday afternoon. The Mustangs are fourth with a record of 12-0-2 while St. Edward's moved up two spots to 16^th just behind Colorado School of Mines. In other rankings, MSU dropped six spots to ninth in the Massey Ratings with SEU also dropping spots to 26^th. West Texas A&M comes in at 53^rd with TAMIU falling 12 spot to 67^th.
 
UP NEXT
The Dustdevils host Newman on Saturday, Oct. 21, at Dustdevil Soccer Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.