TYLER, TEXAS - The UT Tyler men's soccer team will open up the home schedule portion of their season with a matchup against cross-town opponent Texas College this week.
 
The matchup will take place on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at the Citizens 1^st Bank- Perkins Soccer Complex. This will also be the annual Youth Day for the men's soccer program. The UT Tyler Athletic Department and UT Tyler men's soccer team will take the opportunity throughout Wednesday's game to recognize all of the youth clubs in the East Texas area that support Patriot soccer.
 
LOOKING TO NOTCH A WIN
 
The UT Tyler Patriots started their season slate with a 1-1 draw against in-conference foe Oklahoma Christian on September 4^th. It was a strong defensive battle with each team recording 15 shots and scoring just once. Senior Sören Wald scored the Patriots lone goal in the 31^st minute of last Saturday's affair, with the assist coming from the boot of junior Sergio Sola.
 
After the 1-1 draw, the Patriots are ready to get their season rolling with a win against the Steers after the strong finish to last season.
 
HOW THE SERIES HAS SHAPED UP
 
The UT Tyler Patriots and Texas College Steers have matched up four times previously, with the Patriots taking three of the four games. The last matchup between the two cross-town foes was in 2019, with the Patriots taking the game 3-0.
 
Despite the series success, this will be a tough contest for the young Patriots team that will prepare them for a pair of crucial non-conference games against Dallas Baptist and Rogers State in the coming weeks.
 
SCOUTING OUT THE STEERS
 
Texas College opened up their schedule against Howard Payne on September 4^th with a 3-2 overtime loss. The Steers played a strong game, taking more shots and shots on goal than HPU. Texas College is a youthful roster, with no seniors and 24 total freshmen. The Steers are led by 10^th year coach Marco Mthembu.
 
A LOOK AROUND THE LEAGUE
 
The Lone Star Conference season has begun, with the opening week resulting in a record of 6-5-3 for the league's teams. There are two teams that opened up their 2021 schedules with unblemished records, Midwestern State and West Texas A&M.
 
Players of the week for the conference following week one's action included: Offensive- Trevor Amann, Midwestern State; Defensive- Carlos Vargas, Midwestern State; Goalkeeper- Marc-Antoine Huzen, Midwestern State.  
 
FRESHMAN BACK LINE CORE
 
Patriot freshmen Benjamin Curtis and Chase Duhon are already proving their worth on the defensive side of the ball. Through their combined efforts, Oklahoma Christian could only net one goal in last Saturday's contest. Both newcomers played all 110:00 minutes and provided much needed strength to the defense in a tightly-contested game.
 
The success of Curtis and Duhon on the back line early in the 2021 season will allow head coach Kenny Jones the ability to move more experienced players into attacking roles.
 
IT GETS TOUGHER FROM HERE
 
Following Wednesday night's game against Texas College, and the September 15^th contest against Dallas Baptist, the Patriots will have their hands full with two top 25 ranked opponents on the road before returning to Tyler against Texas A&M International on Sept. 25^th.
 
On Sept. 18^th the team will take on #12 Rogers State in the program's first chance at a Top 25 win for the 2021 season. This will be the first meeting ever between the two schools.
 
The Hillcats have opened up their 2021 campaign with a pair of victories against Rockhurst and Lindenwood.
 
On Sept. 22^nd the team will take on #24 St. Mary's, resulting in back-to-back Top 25 showdowns for UT Tyler. In their previous meeting, the Patriots came away with a must-win 1-0 victory over #16 St. Mary's on the road to the program's first postseason appearance in the Lone Star Conference. That match back on Mar. 30 was decided on an own goal by the Rattlers.
 
UT Tyler will look to build on that momentum to gain a second-straight victory against St. Mary's on Sept. 22^nd. The Rattlers have opened their 2021 season with a 3-2 victory against Metro State Denver and a 3-1 defeat to #8 Colorado School of Mines.