TYLER, TEXAS – The UT Tyler men's soccer program will have a pair of games to close out the regular season this week. The program is right in the mix for a spot in the LSC tournament.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
 
The Patriots will host St. Mary's on Wednesday in their final home game of the year. That game is scheduled to be the annual Blue Out game and kick off is set for 5 p.m.
 
On Saturday, the Patriots will head to Dallas, Texas to take on DBU. That matchup is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
The Patriots are 1-3 all time against the Rattlers. Most recently the Rattlers won on 9/22/2021 by a score of 1-0. Last season, the Patriots beat St. Mary's on their way to securing their first ever trip to the LSC postseason tournament.
 
UT Tyler holds a 4-3 record all time against DBU. Most recently the teams met in Tyler where UT Tyler came away with a 1-0 victory. Last season, the victory against DBU was the clinching win that gave the Patriots a postseason berth for the first time in the Lone Star Conference.
 
THE SCOUTING REPORT
 
St. Mary's sits with a record of 11-5 on the year, and they are tied for third in the LSC standings at 4-2. The Rattlers are outscoring their opponents 31-20 on the season and average 1.94 goals per contest. They have taken 260 shots on the season and have a shots on goal percentage of 39.2%. Leading the way in goals and points is senior midfielder Alonso Rodriguez.  
 
The Rattlers are led by head coach Johnny Clifford. Clifford owns a career record of 40-16-6 and all of those games have come at St. Mary's. Most recently, Clifford led the Rattlers to a Lone Star Conference championship and an NCAA Sweet 16.
 
DBU sits at a 5-6 overall record and they are currently tied for sixth in the LSC standings with a. 2-4 record. DBU is dead even in goals scored and given up, with 18. They average 1.64 goals per game on 128 shots and a shots on goal percentage of 43.8%. Their leader in goals and points is senior midfielder Emmanuel Loni.
 
DBU is led by head coach Jess Jobe. Jobe is in his first year as head coach of DBU. Formerly he was an assistant coach for the women's soccer team at DBU from 2011-2017. Most recently, he was the co-head coach for the women's team at Northwestern State University.
 
AROUND THE LONE STAR CONFERENCE
 
Leading the LSC standings currently is Midwestern State with 18 points. Lubbock Christian is slotted right behind them with 13 points. West Texas A&M and St. Mary's are tied for third with 12 points each.
 
Players of the week for the conference include: Offensive- Mere Escobar, Midwestern State; Defensive- Ivan Muanze-Bengono, Lubbock Christian; Goalkeeper- Braxton Thorne, Lubbock Christian.
 
POSTSEASON BERTH ON THE LINE
 
The Patriots are currently in a tie for sixth place in the LSC standings with DBU and UT Permian Basin. UT Tyler currently holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Falcons and DBU will face off against second place Lubbock Christian on Wednesday night. Wins in the final two games will clinch the final spot in the postseason tournament for UT Tyler.