Scorpions Ready for Toughest Challenge of Season

Ricky Rodriguez

Posted November 4,  2007
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- It's the next step in the dream first season for Scorpion soccer -- playing a nationally ranked team.

The UTB/TSC Scorpions will be facing Oklahoma City University, the NAIA's 13th-ranked soccer team in the nation, in a NAIA Region VI semifinal showdown at Harmon Field on the OCU campus.

Both teams check in to the game with identical 14-4-1 records.

However, the Sooner Athletic Conference is highly regarded around NAIA circles. OCU finished fourth in the SAC regular season with a 4-3 record and second in the SAC Tournament.  The Stars lost 3-2 in the finals to Southern Nazarene University, the regular season and tournament champion with a 16-0-1 record and a #3 national ranking.

Southern Nazarene will play Oklahoma Christian University (8-6-2) in the other regional semifinal across town in Bethany at the same time Monday night.

As the only Red River Athletic Conference left in either the men's or women's regional tournament, the Scorpions are representing the conference as well as UTB/TSC. Coach Dan Balaguero knows that the Scorpions will face a strong opponent.

"Obviously, they are a very dangerous team," Balaguero said. ""We obviously respect them, but we don’t need to fear them. Ryan Trudgian, the striker, is a very good player, and we will have to try to contain him."

Trudgian, a 6-3 senior from St. Austell England and one of five English players on the Stars' squad, has scored 19 goals to lead the Stars.

By comparison, junior Fernando Mendoza is the Scorpions' leading scorer with 15 goals. He scored the final goal in the Scorpions' 5-0 win over Texas Wesleyan University in the regional quarterfinal Saturday night at Morningside Park in Brownsville.

Sophomore Enrique "Chicle" Rivera scored three goals for the Scorpions in the win. Rivera had only four goals during the regular season before Saturday's game. Ricky Rodriguez also scored for the Scorpions.

"The spirits have been great today and last night was huge for our confidence," Balaguero said Sunday. "Everyone is flying and excited about the game. We want to put on a good performance."

The winners of Monday night's semifinals meet for the regional championship Tuesday night in Oklahoma City. The winner there advances to the national tournament in Olathe, Kansas, Nov. 14-20.

Monday's game will be webcast on the Scorpion Athletics website at http://athletics.utb.edu.