ROUND ROCK, Texas – The path to the postseason Red River Athletic Conference tournament got much more difficult for Huston-Tillotson University's men's soccer team Thursday as the Rams were defeated 5-2 by North American (Texas).
The Rams (3-6-2, 2-6-1 RRAC) were denied much-needed points on the RRAC table Thursday by the visiting Stallions, who entered the day in 10th place, only a single point ahead of 11th-place Huston-Tillotson. Both teams are chasing one of the eight berths into the conference tournament.
North American dashed the Rams' hopes quickly as the Stallions scored three goals during the first 20 minutes of the contest. Ryota Ishizuka and his teammates consistently found themselves with room to maneuver in HT's backfield; Ishizuka assisted Joan Remo Morales' header goal in the sixth minute, then scored consecutive goals of his own in the 13th and 20th minutes.
Gabriel Da Cunha gave the Stallions even more breathing room with a strike in the 37th minute to give North American a comfortable 4-0 lead that the visitors took into halftime.
The Rams cut North American's lead in half with goals in the first 20 minutes after the restart.
Albright Wesley Suh found teammate
Armando Garcia open near the goal box in the 52nd minute, which Garcia put home for his goal of the season.
In the 66th minute,
Fritz Del Negro's perfect crossing pass into goal box was headed in by
Christian Kisukulu, who also claimed his first goal of 2024.
Still trailing by two goals, the Rams were unable to continue their momentum while the Stallions added an insurance goal in the 85th minute.
HT will try to regroup as they face a challenging Xavier (La.) side Saturday, Oct. 26 at Austin's Onion Creek Soccer Complex. Match time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
– HT –
