Box Score TYLER, TEXAS – The Patriots used an offensive effort fueled by strong set pieces to take down Texas A&M International 4-3 on Saturday night.
 
The Patriots came out of the gates firing, taking four shots in the first nine minutes of play, before Birkir Eydal opened up the scoring with a beautifully fired shot off of a free kick. Eydal's free kick slid right by the wall of the Dustdevils and past the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper for the first goal of the match.
 
At the halfway point of the first half, Texas A&M International began to apply offensive pressure to the back line of the Patriots. It was a low cross slotted home by Gabriel Gacovicaj that got the Dustdevils on the board and tied the game at one goal each.
 
The first half came to a close with the score tied up at one. After both goals were scored just 23 minutes into the game, the rest of the half went by without any quality chances for either side. UT Tyler led on shots 7-5 and led in corner kicks 2-0.
 
The second half was almost the opposite of the first half. Five goals were scored between the teams, all of which in a hectic 25 minute span.
 
It was another set piece that led to the Patriots taking the lead in the 52^nd minute of the match. This time junior Gerardo Ramirez got himself in the goals category for the first time in his Patriots career with a beautifully placed free kick in the top right corner. The left footed finish led to a 2-1 lead for the Patriots.
 
It took 10 minutes for the Patriots to find another goal. This time Sorën Wald scored for the second time this season, and his first since the season opener. The goal was set up by a long pass from Caleb Allen that found a streaking Michael Myers down the left sideline. Myers dribbled it into the box and sent a nice pass right to Wald's feet that set him up for the finish.
 
Just two minutes later, the Patriots lead was cut down to just one. This time it was Lassana Diakite scoring from just outside of the goalie box to bring the Dustdevils right back into the game.
 
In the 73^rd minute, Wald scored his second goal of the match and third of the season to put the Patriots permanently out of reach. It was yet another set piece goal for the Patriots as Shane Popieluch delivered the ball off of a free kick to the head of Ramirez. Ramirez sent that ball straight up into the air on the goal line for Wald to finish off easily with a header.
 
Texas A&M International would put up one more goal in the 78^th minute to keep the Patriots on their toes. This time it was Kristian Colaci scoring his seventh goal of the season to move the Dustdevils back within one goal.
 
The Patriots would have to stave off three more shot attempts in the final ten minutes before the buzzer went off. The second half saw UT Tyler take 13 shots to the Dustdevils 11. It was constant pressure from the offense throughout both halves that saw the Patriots stop their two game slide.
 
It was a new season high for shot attempts and shots on goal. Six different players earned a point in the match, which sets yet another season high. The win brings the Patriots up to a 3-2-1 record on the season with just two non-conference matches remaining.
 
Next on the schedule will be a two game road trip for the Patriots. They will head to Odessa, Texas to take on UT Permian Basin on Oct. 2. Following that game they will head to Clinton, Miss. to take on Mississippi College in a midweek contest on Oct. 6.