LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International University men's soccer battled back twice but ultimately came up short in a 3-2 loss to UT Dallas on Saturday at Dustdevil Field.
The Dustdevils (3-2-1) answered an early deficit and later erased a second one, but a 65th-minute goal proved to be the difference. TAMIU finished with 10 shots, placing eight on goal, while goalkeeper Nicklas Berg-Eriksen made 10 saves.
UT Dallas opened the scoring just 2:12 into the match when Parker Bowman found the back of the net. TAMIU responded almost immediately, needing just 80 seconds to pull level. Juan Guerrero Obando set up Jaime Martinez, who scored at the 3:32 mark to make it 1-1.
The Comets regained the advantage in the 14th minute as Avery Brazzell scored off an assist from Callum Thompson, sending TAMIU into halftime trailing 2-1.
TAMIU continued to push for an equalizer after the break and found it in the 63rd minute. Abner Zuniga delivered the tying goal at 62:35, bringing the Dustdevils back even at 2-2.
The tie lasted less than three minutes. Thompson responded for UT Dallas at 65:05, scoring off a Jordan Jones assist to put the Comets back in front, 3-2.
TAMIU continued searching for another equalizer, but UT Dallas held off the Dustdevils over the final 25 minutes to secure the victory. Guerrero Obando produced TAMIU's final attempt in the 90th minute, sending a shot high and left.
Aidan Williams was a consistent threat for the Dustdevils, finishing with a team-high four shots, all four of which were on target. Zuniga recorded two shots on goal along with his second-half goal, while Martinez scored on his lone attempt. Berg-Eriksen's 10 saves helped keep TAMIU within striking distance despite UT Dallas holding a 22-10 advantage in total shots.
The result moves TAMIU to 3-2-1 on the season.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT:
Abner Zuniga scored the Dustdevils' second-half equalizer against UT Dallas. Zuniga found the back of the net in the 63rd minute to pull TAMIU even at 2-2 and finished the match with two shots, both on goal, while playing all 90 minutes.
Zuniga is a freshman midfielder for Texas A&M International University. A native of Laredo, TX, Abner is the son of Veronica and Eliu Zuniga and was born on August 18, 2008.
