TYLER, TEXAS – The UT Tyler Patriots men's soccer program will face off against #17 Rogers State on Saturday at 1 p.m. The contest will be on the road in Claremore, Okla. and it will be the first road contest since Sept. 4^th against Oklahoma Christian.
 
STAYING UNBEATEN
 
The Patriots continued their hot start to the season with a 1-0 victory over DBU on Wednesday night. Sophomore Jack Simonini picked a fantastic time to score his first collegiate goal, scoring the decider just 10 minutes into the match. It was a defensive struggle the entire night, with neither team having ample opportunities to score.
 
The close victory comes against a DBU team that brought back a host of experience. This match certainly gave UT Tyler a good look at where their team lies heading into this critical road trip.
 
A FRESH OPPONENT
 
The Patriots have never faced #17 Rogers State in their program history. The Hillcats are a recent addition to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, beginning membership in the fall of 2019. Their men's soccer program promptly won their first MIAA championship the same year.
 
The Hillcats have spent the entire year ranked in the top 25 nationally. However, they have slipped from their highest ranking of eighth down to seventeenth now.
 
SCOUTING OUT THE HILLCATS
 
#17 Rogers State is 3-1-1 to start off the young season. The Hillcats have some impressive victories with all three being shutouts. Their only loss of the season came against Lone Star Conference foe Midwestern State, which was a 4-0 defeat.
 
In their most recent action, the Hillcats came away with a 1-1 tie against Oklahoma Christian. Back on Sept. 4^th, the Patriots also finished with a 1-1 tie against Oklahoma Christian.
 
The Hillcats are led by 14^th year head coach Derek Larkin. The program is currently averaging 1.8 goals per contest and takes an average of 12.2 shots per game. Sophomore Ruben Carrasco is the leading goal scorer with three, and also leads the Hillcats with seven points.
 
AROUND THE LONE STAR CONFERENCE
 
Thursday night saw five LSC members take to the pitch, going a combined 4-1-1 on the evening. Leading the way for the conference with victories was Midwestern State, St. Mary's, Texas A&M International and West Texas A&M.
 
This weekend will see four total games being played by LSC members other than the Patriots. West Texas A&M, Texas A&M International, DBU, and Midwestern State will all be in action.
 
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
 
On the schedule for the Patriots are road games in four of the next five matches. Following the game against #17 Rogers State, the Patriots will take on St. Mary's in San Antonio, Texas.
 
UT Tyler will get a short homestand with a match against Texas A&M International on Saturday Sept. 25^th at 7 p.m., before immediately heading back on the road for another two game road trip.
 
The Patriots will begin conference play with a matchup against UT Permian Basin at home on Oct. 9^th starting at 3:30 p.m.