Scorpions Record Fifth Shutout of Season in 2-0 Conference Win
Posted October 8, 2008
For the fourth time, UTB/TSC shut down Texas Wesleyan University without a goal in a 2-0 victory over the Rams at Morningside Park Wednesday, October 8, matching the two teams that met for the Red River Athletic Conference championship last year.

UTB/TSC defeated TWU three times in 2007 without allowing a goal, including the RRAC title game in Fort Worth and the NAIA Region VI quarterfinals in Brownsville.

The Scorpions scored both goals in the first 10 minutes of the game.

:I’m delighted in the way we started the game, it was everything we talked about," Scorpion head coach Dan Balaguero said. "We tried to get the third one to put the game, but give credit to TWU. We kept the tempo of the game and possessed the ball well."

The win puts the Scorpions tied for the RRAC lead with Texas College at 3-0. Overall, UTB/TSC is 7-4. TWU dropped to 4-4-2, 1-2.

Goalkeeper Juan Gamboa and the Scorpion defense registered their fifth shutout of the season in 11 games, an average of .455 that ranks 10th best in the country. In the four wins over TWU, the Rams have yet to score on the Scorpions.

"That’s a credit to everyone as well, not just the keeper, although Juan (Gamboa) has been fantastic. We know that TWU is one of the premier teams in the conference. It’s a rough game, and it's been a good rivalry and a fierce battle with them every time."

Darren O'Connor scored for the Scorpions in the seventh minute of the game on a free kick from 25 yards out that was perfectly placed around the wall of blockers. The ball dropped into the right side of the net just inside the post.

Three minutes later, Dave Purser scored on a close-range shot with assists by Jose Galvan and Fernando Mendoza.

UTB/TSC controlled the game throughout, and had a 27-11 shots advantage. The Scorpions had nine shots on goal compared to six by the Rams.

Scorpion goalkeeper Juan Gamboa had six saves.

The Scorpions are back at Morningside Park Thursday, October 16 to face Bacone College in a Red River Athletic Conference matchup that will the final home game of the season for the Scorpions.