Seniors Shine As #17 Men's Soccer Thrashes Newman In Season Finale

Dustdevils Blank Jets 3-0

By Michael Blake

On November 5, 2011

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Bacchi Scores In Final Game Of TAMIU Career. Courtesy photo from Michael Blake

Laredo, Texas – In a fitting end to a remarkable season, seniors scored two of the Dustdevils' three goals on senior night, as the Texas A&M International University Men's Soccer Team shutout Newman University 3-0. The win caps off a perfect 8-0 record for the Dustdevils in Heartland Conference Play.

Luis Salas and Diego Manzano-Cano led the TAMIU attack firing four shots a piece and tallying one goal each. Senior Joao Bacchi scored the Dustdevils third goal of the night wrapping up his TAMIU career with a bang, scoring goals in back to back games. Four other players for TAMIU took at least one shot on the night - Kristian Quintana, Arturo Gutierrez, Jovany Macias and Guilherme Andrade as the Dustdevils outshot their opponents 15-3.

Despite outshooting Newman in the opening half 6-3, the home team was unable to break through the Newman defense and the game went into the half tied at zero.

After an emotional halftime celebration honoring the 2011 men's and women's senior classes, the Dustdevils came out in the second half with a renewed sense of purpose. Salas finally put TAMIU on the board in the 66^th minute of the match, taking a beautiful touch pass from Cano and firing a shot past the Newman keeper on the near-side post.

Salas returned the favor in the 82^nd minute, locating a wide open Cano inside the box. From only eight yards out, there wasn't much the keeper could do as Cano turned and fired home his team leading ninth goal of the season.

With less than a minute to play team favorite Joao Bacchi, playing in his final game at Dustdevil field, scored his second goal of the season taking another assist from Salas, dribbling around two Newman defenders and blasting home TAMIU's final goal of the match.

After the game the TAMIU players saluted their cheering fans, thanking them for their support in helping to bring home their second consecutive Heartland Conference Championship. The Dustdevils conclude the 2011 season with an overall record of 12-3-2.