The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Jaguars’ hot streak continues into week two of season

Jaguars’ hot streak continues into week two of season - The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Jags freshman midfielder Gabriel Soliz (black jersey) ascends for the header against Kansas Wesleyan University Sept. 4, 2022, at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Photo by Matthew Lopez

Weather delays, game postponement and spontaneous changes in the schedule all stood before Texas A&M University-San Antonio men’s and women’s soccer teams, but they did not waver.

Although the men’s club only played one game, their willingness to play for each other rather than the point led to an offensive onslaught for the one match they were able to play against Kansas Wesleyan University.

The women’s team ended its three-game homestead with a 3-0 record. Although the season just started, they showed continuity in defense, quickly turning that into points.

Sept. 3: Jags triumph over Sul Ross State 2-1, advancing to 2-0

A&M-San Antonio women’s soccer team took down Sul Ross State University 2-1.

The Jaguar offense applied pressure, immediately attempting multiple shots at goal. The first point of the game was scored by sophomore midfielder Arissa Perez. 

The Jags delivered on both ends of the field, holding Sul Ross to one shot at goal the entire first half. 

Ross State matched the Jags’ intensity in the second half. Neither team gave an inch defensively until Yissel Olivares, Sul Ross junior midfielder, scored — tying the game. 

Freshman midfielder Ana Barragan scored with 10 minutes left, which put the Jags up 2-1. Ross State would have one more chance to tie it up, but their last shot was saved by sophomore goalkeeper Maram Abdeljaber.

Sept. 4: Men’s team barrels through Kansas Wesleyan for first win of season

A&M-San Antonio men’s soccer team won its first official game of the season against Kansas Wesleyan University, with a final score of 3-0.

The team intended to have its season opener against Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Aug. 30, but the match was postponed due to inclement weather. The game against KWU was originally scheduled for 3 p.m. but was moved to 11 a.m. 

Darnell Smith, director of Intercollegiate Athletics, said the decision was spontaneous. The men’s club still had not played a game while the women’s were about to play their third match of the season. The weather has been sporadic, so Smith and the coaches agreed to move the match earlier to ensure the men’s club got a chance to play. 

The Jaguars did not hesitate in setting the tone. Within the first 20 minutes, freshman forward Dante Yosef Valencia scored the first goal of the game. 

After scoring, the Jags clamped down on the defensive end, holding KWU to one shot at goal for the rest of the period. 

Carrying their momentum into the second half, the Jags scored two more goals — both made by freshman midfielder Efren Durate. Both goals were scored within 10 minutes of each other. 

KWU would finish the game scoreless, falling to the Jaguars 3-0. 

“It’s exciting to score the first goal of the game … I don’t really care who scores, I just want to win the games as a team course,” Valencia said. “Out here, we showed it was a team effort because we had three different goals scored.”

An elated head coach Robert Jaramillo said, “We played a really good team. Those guys are well coached. I really liked the way everyone (the Jaguars) is coming together. Not bad for a team that’s been together two weeks, huh?” 

The club’s next game will be their first away game at 1 p.m. Sept. 9 at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas

Jags sophomore midfielder Hannah Kim (black jersey) fights for possession against Kansas Wesleyan University Sept. 4, 2022, at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Photo by Matthew Lopez

Sept. 4: Women’s team remains undefeated after taking down Kansas Wesleyan, improving to 3-0 

A&M-San Antonio women’s soccer club continued their hot streak, beating Kansas Wesleyan University 1-0.

Sophomore defensive midfielder Brooke Theis led the club’s effort on defense. Theis protected center field while keeping the team connected to capitalize off their defensive stops. 

Their persistence on defense paved the way for the only goal of the game, scored by freshman midfielder Ana Barragan — her fourth goal of the season — assisted by Theis. 

KWU began to match the Jags’ pace on defense, and both clubs would finish the half allowing a few shots at goal on either side. 

Coming into the second period, the players wasted no time turning up the intensity, racing up and down the field, fighting for the slightest edge. The teams’ aggression caused the referees to give two yellow cards to two players — KWU senior forward Kayla Deaver and the Jags’ Tonantzi Garcia, freshman defensive midfielder. 

The Jags held their ground and outlasted KWU 1-0, remaining undefeated. The team now has more wins than they did all last season. 

“As a team, we played phenomenal,” head coach Fred Sanguinetti said. “We’re coming off playing less than 24 hours ago, and they (KWU) had a day of rest, but the way we played as a team and team defense … I’m just so darn proud.” 

Barragan continued her offensive rampage, leading the team in total points scored. She said her prowess on the field comes from diligent training with her father. 

“I would train with my dad, like, every day,” Barragan said. “It was to the point where I had to miss events and hanging out with friends and stuff, but it was worth it in the end.” 

The Jags’ next three matches will be away games, starting 1 p.m. Sept. 18 at Texas Southern University in Houston.

This story was updated at 1:41 p.m. Dec. 1, 2022, to adjust formatting.

About the Author

Matthew (Moose) Lopez
Social Media Editor
Matthew Lopez is a senior at Texas A&M University-San Antonio majoring in communications. Matthew received his associate degree along with his high school diploma in 2018. In his downtime he likes to go to the gym, watch sports and write poetry. He hopes to have a career in journalism where he can report on anything and everything — as long as he gets to continue writing, that is enough for him.

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