LAREDO, Texas (October 31, 2017) – Alan Rivera converted the fifth and final penalty kick in the shootout as the Texas A&M International University men's soccer advanced to the Heartland Conference semifinals defeating UT Permian Basin 5-4 on penalty kicks after a hard-fought 0-0 draw on Thursday night in front of 435 fans at Dustdevil Soccer Field. The Dustdevils will face No. 1 seed Midwestern State on Friday, Nov. 3, at 7:00 p.m. in Wichita Falls.
 
The Dustdevils record moves to 10-4-3 (9-4-1 HC) while the Falcons finish their season at 9-7-2 (8-6-0). TAMIU finished the match with a 26-12 advantage in shots with Rafael Montabes registering a career-high eight shots with four of those on-target while Rivera also had a career night with seven. Carlos Herrera (9-2-3) made six saves picking up his seventh shutout of the season.
 
Michael Iskander had the Dustdevils first real chance at 18:29 on a shot from just outside the penalty area. UTPB's Alec Sproule had trouble holding onto the shot but no TAMIU players were there for a rebound. Rodrigo Zuniga had another chance four minutes later in the 23^rd minute but Sproule pushed his shot from the near post out of bounds for a corner kick.
 
Rivera was nearly rewarded for a long run down the right side on a ball over the top from Montabes at 24:50 but Sproule's was there to make the save for the fourth time in the first half. Herrera came up big with his first save of the first half at 34:20 on a header from Brandon Lee from a free kick resulting in a pajr of corner kicks for the Falcons.
 
Iskander had another chance at 70:47 getting on a 50/50 ball in the box but his shot hit the left post going straight into arms of Sproule. The Dustdevils continued to bring numbers forward as they recorded four shots over the next two minutes.
 
Herrera came up big in the final minutes to deny Kainia Maia after a breakdown in the Dustdevil defense. The Falcons had the best chance of the first overtime period but Herrera was in the right spot to deny Stefan Faria.
 
The penalty shootout was tied at three until Herrera guessed correctly to deny Maia. Elias Peralese made his making it 4-3 with Sharma Darupad keeping the Falcons hopes alive making it on their fifth attempt. But it was Rivera who proved to be the hero as the Phoenix, Arizona product made Sproule guess the wrong way sending the Dustdevils to the semifinals for the first time since 2015.