LIVE STATS | VIDEO | MATCH NOTES

LAREDO, Texas (September 19, 2017) – The Texas A&M International University men's soccer team will make the trek to Canyon for a match against West Texas A&M on Thursday, Sept. 21. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at The Pitch.
 
The Dustdevils (1-1-2, 0-1-1) will look to get things going offensively this weekend after scoring two goals in the first four matches of the 2017 season. Alan Rivera scored his first career goal in TAMIU's 1-1 draw against Dallas Baptist on Saturday. The Buffs (3-2-0, 1-1-0) enter the match on a high-note after putting up five goals including four unanswered on Oklahoma Christian in their first conference win of the season last week. 
 
A link of live stats and video 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
Thursday's match against the Buffs will be the 14^th meeting between the two schools and the seventh match played in Canyon. WT leads the all-time series 9-2-2 including winning four straight. The Dustdevils last defeated the Buffs on Sept. 7, 2014 in Canyon by a score line of 2-0.
 
A LOOK AT THE BUFFS
Butch Lauffer  (307-142-33) is the longest tenured coach in WT school history and sits three wins short of 500 for his collegiate coaching career. He enters his 26^th year in charge looking to get the Buffs back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009.
 
The Buffs' offense is one of the best in the nation ranking in top-25 nationally in scoring offense (18^th, 2.8 goals per game), total goals (21^st, 14), shots per game (14^th, 18.2 per game) and shots on goal per game (15^th, 8.8 per game). 10 different WT players have registered a goal with junior Callum Challinor leading the way with three.
 
Challinor leads the Buffs up front joined by transfer Julio Vargas, who has tallied two goals and two assists in his first five matches in Canyon. Rafael Vasconcellos and Cal Bryan have both scored goals off the bench while Gabe Williams adds depth up front having played as a forward and attacking midfielder this season.
 
WT returns a lot of experience and talent in the midfield highlighted by Evan Bozman, Ivan Ulloa and Shane Dockery. Bozman wears the captain's armband for WT and causes problems down the right side with his speed. The Garland, Texas native scored his only goal of the season in WT's 5-2 victory over CSU-Pueblo. Ivan Ulloa also scored against the ThunderWolves as the junior has an eye for finding his teammates all over the pitch. Dockery plays much like Michael Bradley for the U.S. National Team anchoring the midfield while adding another defensive presence when defending. Stefan Andjelic has been a welcome addition as the Ottawa, Ontario native has netted two goals to go along with one assist for a total of five points in his debut season at WT.
 
Junior Troy Reeves anchors the WT defense after registering a team-high in minutes played in 2016. The Keller, Texas native hast started in four matches so far this season scoring his first goal of the season in WT's 5-1 victory over OC last weekend. Joining Reeves on the backline is Sean Dublin, Cameron Walker and Michael Garcia.
 
Alexander Vencel is the goalkeeper of choice for the Buffs having played all 454:09 minutes as a freshman. The Mittelhausbergen, France native enters the third weekend of play with 19 saves on 45 shots faced for a .667 save percentage.
 
HELP WANTED
The numbers don't lie, it's been a struggle offensively for the Dustdevils so far in 2017. They rank near the bottom of the Division II rankings in scoring offense but it isn't due to the lack of trying. Alan Rivera and Michale Iskander are the only two Dustdevils with 10 or more shots so far with 11 and 10 respectively. Rafael Montabes is starting to find his groove after assisting on Rivera's goal against DBU and will look to put his name on the score sheet this weekend.
 
HERRERA OFF TO A HOT START
Carlos Herrera has been great in goal for the Dustdevils through four games in 2017 after transferring from Iowa Western Community College. He made 11 saves in two matches last weekend including a career-high six in a 1-0 setback to nationally ranked St. Edward's in Austin.
 
The junior ranks 10^th nationally in save percentage (.900) and 18^th in goals against average (0.45) while the Dustdevils rank 14^th as a team in team goals against average (0.45). He was named the Heartland Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 4 after back-to-back shutouts becoming the first Dustdevil to earn the honor since Jesus Cisneros on Sept. 17, 2012.
 
YOUNG GUNS IMPRESSING
The Dustdevils have only two goals through four matches this season in large part to the play of sophomore Luis Diaz and freshman Keanu Born. The duo has started in three matches paired at center back including back-to-back shutouts to start the season.
 
Diaz sat out last year after prepping at United South High School where earned Laredo Morning Times Defensive Most Valuable Player of the week honors. Born joined TAMIU this fall out of Coven-Gymnaisum Aachen in Aachen, Germany where he was a standout at the local soccer club.
 
HEARTLAND IN THE RANKINGS
Midwestern State and St. Edward's were the only two schools from the Heartland Conference ranked in the latest United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II National Poll coming in at #8 and #17 respectively. Both schools moved up five spots in the latest Massey Ratings with the Mustangs entering the top five at No. 3 and the Hilltoppers now at 15^th.
 
UP NEXT
The Dustdevils finish their four-match road trip on Saturday, Sept. 23, against Eastern New Mexico in Portales, N.M. TAMIU leads the all-time series 7-1-2.