Men's Soccer Stays Unbeaten With 4-1 Win at UTPB

ODESSA, Texas – The string of shutouts may be over, but the St. Mary's Men's Soccer team still put on a show in a 4-1 victory at UT Permian Basin to remain unbeaten on the season.
 
An own goal by the Falcons (3-3-3, 1-1-1 Lone Star Conference) put the Rattlers (7-0-4, 3-0-0 LSC) on top in the 40th minute. In the 54th minute on a penalty kick, the Falcons tied up the score.
 
"It was a strange game," said Head Coach Johnny Clifford. "I felt we came out flat and struggled to play the way we wanted! But we got the job done and we will take the three points back to San Antonio."
 
After more than a 20-minute delay due to an injury, the Rattlers pushed across three goals in just over four minutes. The barrage started when senior Deni Cresto (Curitiba, Parana, Brazil) kicked a free kick from approximately 20-yards out that fellow senior Ariel Cardozo (Ciudad de Este, Paraguay) headed into the right side of the goal for his third goal of the season and his second game-winner of the year.
 
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the UTPB keeper (Luke Ryan) who had an injury during the game," Clifford said. "We wish him a speedy recovery."
 
Senior Jose Llano (Mexico City, Mexico) dribbled downfield and at the last moment, passed the ball across the goal box to sophomore Andrick Ferrer (San Antonio) whose right-footed kick found the left side of the goal in the 72nd minute.
 
Thirty seconds later, Cresto took another free kick, which senior Lewis Wilson (Aberdeen, Scotland) headed and Juan Valdez (Ascuncion, Paraguay) scored on for his first goal of the year and the 4-1 win.
 
The Rattlers host West Texas A&M on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the women's team.