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LAREDO, Texas (October 4, 2017) – The Texas A&M International University men's soccer welcomes the 15^th-ranked Hilltoppers of St. Edward's to the Dustdevil Soccer Field for World Teachers Appreciation Night on Thursday, Oct. 5. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
 
The Dustdevils (4-2-2, 3-2-1) are coming off one of their most complete matches of the season in a 2-0 victory over Oklahoma Christian on Saturday as Alan Rivera scored twice goals for the second time in a week. St. Edward's (8-1-1, 5-0-1) were held to a 1-1 draw in their last match against Newman halting a six-match winning streak.
 
A link of live stats can be found at GoDustdevils.com under the men's soccer schedule page. 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
The second match of the 2017 season between the two schools will be the 25^th all-time meeting. The Hilltoppers hold a 16-4-4 advantage winning the last nine meetings including the previous three in Laredo.
 
THE LAST TIME AROUND
The Dustdevils dropped a 1-0 contest to the Hilltoppers on Sept. 14 in Austin playing with out four of its regular starters due to injury or suspension. SEU's Grant Mobley scored the only goal of the match in the 64^th minute on an assist from Owain Hoskins and Pablo Covarrubias.
 
A LOOK AT THE HILLTOPPERS
Brian Young (144-84-27) has the Hilltoppers in second place in the Heartland Conference through six matches with 16 points. Before their draw with Newman on Saturday, Young's squad had won their previous six matches, five of those coming in Heartland Conference play, after falling to nationally-ranked Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction on Sept. 8.
 
The Hilltoppers offense goes through Dylan Armstrong, Grant Mobley, Pablo Covarrubias and Parker Fyfe. Armstrong ranks fifth nationally in game-winning goals (4) and 18^th in total assist (5) while his 17 total points are good enough for 21^st. Mobley ranks second on the team in goals (4) and points (11) while his three assists are the third-most on the team.
 
The All-American center backs Owain Hoskins and Ty Mobley have combined for two goals and five assists lead the defense. The duo use their height and skill in front of goal to cause problems on set pieces for opposing teams. Goalkeeper William Tuffin ranks third in the conference against average (.783) while his four shutouts are tied for first with Richard Goss of Midwestern State. He anchors that ranks 44^th in Division II in shutout percentage.
 
WHAT'S AT STAKE
A win for the Dustdevils on Thursday would not only be the first victory over a Top-25 at home in program history but it would bring TAMIU within three points of the Hilltoppers at the top of the South Division. TAMIU currently sits second in the division and fifth overall tied with Dallas Baptist with 10 points.
 
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Alan Rivera is tied for the lead in total goals in conference play with five, sharing the honor with Scott Doney of Midwestern State and Brandon Lee of UT Permian Basin.
 
Sophomore Rafael Montabes ranks second in the conference in shots per game with 3.43 trailing only Ethan Martinez of Dallas Baptist. His 3.60 shots per game in conference matches is tied for first in the conference with Jake Simpson of Rogers State and Nehad Markovic of St. Mary's.
 
Carlos Herrera ranks second in the conference and 14^th in the nation in goals against average (.667) and 24^th nationally in save percentage (85.3%) The Dustdevils as a team rank second in the conference in scoring defense (0.63) and save percentage (85.8%).
 
SATURDAYS ARE FOR THE BOYS, ALAN RIVERA PROBABLY
For the second Saturday in a row, Alan Rivera scored two goals leading the Dustdevils to a victory. The Phoenix, Arizona native converted his third penalty of the season in the 53^rd minute to give TAMIU before adding a brace in the 77^th minute after a nice through ball from Aaron Alvarez and beating the keeper near post. The previous Saturday, the senior scored both goals in TAMIU's 2-1 comeback victory over Easter New Mexico.
 
A FEW NEW FACES FOR TAMIU
Josh Jones, Billy Sanchez and Ayoub Fouadi made their debuts in the Dustdevils' 2-0 win over the Eagles of Oklahoma Christian on Saturday. Jones replaced Carlos Herrera in goal making four saves to pick up TAMIU's fourth pickup of the season. Sanchez played 12 minutes, all coming in the first half, while Fouadi played the final 14 minutes in TAMIU's first home win of the season.
 
HEARTLAND IN THE RANKINGS
Midwestern State moved up one sport in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Men's National poll released on Tuesday afternoon while St. Edward's dropped four spots to 14^th. MSU stayed at third in the Massey Ratings while the Hilltoppers dropped 11 spots to 19^th after a draw with Newman. West Texas A&M leapfrogged the Dustdevils moving up 29 spots to 55^th while TAMIU dropped eight spots to 62^nd.
 
UP NEXT
The Dustdevils will make the short trip up Interstate-59 for showdown with St. Mary's on Oct. 7. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. at Sigme Beta Chi Field.