This Week in Rattlers Soccer
Wednesday, Oct. 16 • UT Tyler (2-4-4, 0-1-3) at #25 St. Mary's (7-2-2, 3-0-0) • 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12 • #25 St. Mary's at Texas A&M International (2-6-2, 0-3-1) • 7 p.m.
Back to the Split: After playing only one game last week, the St. Mary's Men's Soccer team returns to the split week schedule, hosting UT Tyler on Wednesday before traveling to Laredo to face Texas A&M International on Saturday. Both contests are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Double Honor: The Rattlers were awarded both the Defensive and Goalkeeper of the Week honors by the Lone Star after the team's 2-1 win over St. Edward's. Luke Mulkey earned the first award of his career and the third Defensive Player of the Week this year for the Rattlers with his anchoring of the back line and the team's first goal in the 40th minute. Johnny Thurbin also earned his first POW, recording a career-best seven saves as he faced 15 shots in the second half.
Nationally Ranked: For the first time this season and the 32nd week in history, the Rattlers are nationally ranked by the United Soccer Coaches Association, coming in at #25. This is the seventh straight year the Rattlers have been ranked inside the top 25 for at least one week.
All-Time with UT Tyler: In the non-conference, the Rattlers won a 2-0 match at UT Tyler to give them a 6-2-3 lead in the all-time series between the clubs. St. Mary's is unbeaten in the last six against the Patriots (3-0-3) and in games at Sigma Beta Chi the team is 4-1-1. The series began in 2019 when the two teams joined the Lone Star Conference.
All-Time with Texas A&M International: This will also be the second meeting of the year with the Dustdevils after the Rattlers won 2-1 back on Sept. 21. TAMIU holds a slight 18-15-4 lead in the all-time series that began in 2002, though StMU is unbeaten in the last seven contests (5-0-2), dating back to 2021 in the spring. In Laredo, the Rattlers are 5-12-2 but have won the last two.
A Season First: The win over St. Edward's on Saturday was the first time this season an opponent recorded more shots than St. Mary's. The Hilltoppers outshot the Rattlers, 17-to-13, tallying 15 in the second half. St. Mary's ranks second in the Lone Star and 10th nationally with 16.45 shot per game, trailing only Midwestern State's 17.64 per game.Â
Balanced Attack: The Rattlers have 14 different players with at least one point this season, led by sophomore Gael Gallegos with 15. Graduate student Cooper Stephens is second on the club with five points. Gallegos became the first player this season to kick a second game-winner, doing so with the penalty kick on Saturday against St. Ed's.Â
Getting the Jump: St. Mary's is 7-0-0 this season when scoring first and 0-2-1 when the opposition finds the back of the net first. The Rattlers are 64-3-4 all-time under Head Coach Johnny Clifford when taking the initial lead.
What A Guy-ellgos: Sophomore forward Gael Gallegos scored the 13th goal of his career with the penalty kick against St. Edward's. He scored six goals as a freshman and has seven this season. Gallegos ranks third in the Lone Star with 0.64 goals per game, fourth with 1.36 points per game and seventh with 1.00 shots on goal per game.
Defense to Offense: Junior Luke Mulkey became the fifth different defender to score a goal this season with his header against St. Edward's. Mulkey joins Gianluca Fiorini, Bradley Greene, Pau Mateu Deya, and Lewis Nohar with goals in 2024. Andrick Ferrer also has a pair of assists from the defensive line.
Stingy Defense: St. Mary's leads the Lone Star and ranks ninth in the nation with its 0.64 goals against average. They are also ninth nationally in save percentage (.821) and 16th nationally in shutout percentage (.455). Individually, GK Johnny Thurbin ranks 14th in goals against average (0.64) and 16th in save percentage (.816), playing all 990 minutes.
