Antonio Vernaschi
Antonio Vernaschi (7) gets by OLLU defender

Scorpions Blank OLLU, 1-0,
for Third Shutout of Season
Posted September 20, 2008
Fernando Mendoza's soft tap into the net was the only goal of the night as the UTB/TSC Scorpions recorded their third shutout of the season, this time a 1-0 win over Our Lady of the Lake University Saturday, September 20, at Morningside Park.

The intense win boosts the Scorpions to a 4-2 record overall, while OLLU drops to 3-4-1. More than 400 spectators attended, many of them supporting OLLU which had 11 players on its roster from the Valley.

Scorpion goalkeeper Juan Gamboa had five saves for the Scorpions for his third shutout. The Scorpions are ranked No. 7 in the nation in shutouts per game with a 0.50 average, one every other game.

Enrique "Chicle" Rivera and Brian Hardie received assists for the goal by Mendoza, who drew the OLLU goalkeeper away from the net and made a brilliant move to get past him. From there, it was just a matter of tapping the ball into the net.

"The goal form Nando was a top quality finish, he took it really well," Scorpion head coach Dan Balaguero said.  "Gamboa made a couple of great saves as he continues his excellent form. I thought Darren O'Connor was fantastic tonight; he really dictated the pace of the game."

 In 2007, OLLU beat the Scorpions, 1-0, in one of only five Scorpion losses of the year.

"Give credit to OLLU, they were very hard to break down," Balaguero said. "To be fair, they were unlucky not to get more out of tonight's game. We fought hard and credit to the boys for finding a way to win."

The Scorpions had 17 shots, six on goal. OLLU had five shots on goal.

Saturday's game was the first of four games within an eight-day stretch for the Scorpions. UTB/TSC begins Red River Athletic Conference play with a road game at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin Tuesday, September 23, then visits Oklahoma for two road games September 26-27 against Oklahoma City University and Southern Nazarene University, both ranked in the nation's top 10.