LAREDO, Texas (October 5, 2017) – Michael Iskander's goal in the 89^th minute lifted the Texas A&M International University men's soccer to it's first win over a nationally-ranked opponent at home as the Dustdevils came back from a one-goal deficit to defeat #15 St. Edward's 2-1 on Thursday night in front of 215 fans at Dustdevil Soccer Field. 
 
The Dustdevils win back-to-back matches for the second time in 2017 and improve their overall record to 5-2-2 and 4-2-1 in Heartland Conference play while the Hilltoppers drop to 8-2-1 (5-1-1).
 
Iskander scored is his second goal of the season in the victory as TAMIU improved to 5-16-4 all-time against the Hilltoppers. Alan Rivera tallied the other goal for the Dustdevils while Rafael Montabes and Elias Perales were credited with assists. Carlos Herrera (4-2-2) was huge in goal for TAMIU making five saves, all coming in the second half, on 12 shots faced.
 
SEU controlled the opening minutes of the match as Julian Sanchez had their best chance on goal in the 7^th but it went wide. The Dustdevils got more comfortable as the match moved along in the first half with Kevin Hernandez, Montabes and Luis Diaz all recording shots as TAMIU held a 5-2 advantage in shots in the first 45 minutes.
 
It was the Hilltoppers that came out firing on all cylinders to start the second half as Ty Mobley came close to scoring the first goal of the match in the 50^th minute. The senior got his head on a corner kick sending it to the far post of Herrera but Jovany Carlino was there to head it away from danger. The All-American center back had another shot attempt just 30 seconds later but that too was blocked.
 
After TAMIU weathered the storm as Montabes turned the tide back in the favor of the Dustdevils in the 58^th minute as he had a clear scoring opportunity turned away by SEU's William Tuffin The Madrid, Spain native rose above the defense to get his head on a corner kick sending it to the right post but was denied by the outstretched hand of Tiffin to keep tied at zeroes.
 
Rivera came within inches of making it 1-0 in favor of TAMIU in the 64^th minute after latching onto a long ball behind the SEU defense. After holding off Nate Coons, the Phoenix, Arizona product had just the keeper to beat but he sent the ball just inches wide of the far post.
 
The Hilltoppers took advantage of the missed shot as William Tuffin's ensuing goal kick found Ruben Gonzalez near midfield in the 65^th minute where the redshirt freshman turned and played a nice through ball to substitute John-Mathey Tofey for his second goal of the season and an one goal advantage.
 
The Dustdevils responded quickly to tie the match in the 68^th minute on Rivera's sixth goal of the season. Montabes got the counter attack started with a through ball down the left side to Perales who crossed the ball into the area. SEU's Tuffin struggled to control Perales' cross and Rivera was there to pounce on the loose ball and tie it at 1-1 sending the Dustdevil sideline into a frenzy.
 
Each team searched for a winner in the final five minutes as Herrear denied SEU's Dylan Armstrong a one-on-one but it was Iskander who had the final say scoring his second game-winner of his career with just 84 seconds left in the match on a free kick just outside of the penalty area. The senior confidently stepped up to the ball after the referee's whistle curling the ball over the top of the SEU defenders and into the far post giving the Dustdevils their first home win over a ranked opponent in program history.
 
The Dustdevils start their final three-match road trip of the season against St. Mary's on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 12 p.m. at Sigma Beta Chi Field in San Antonio.