Match Info	Opponent Info
#21 St. Mary's vs. UT Tyler STMU: 1-0-2, 0-0 LSC | UTT: 4-0, 0-0 LSC Wednesday, Sep. 14th | 5:00 P.M. Citizens 1st Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex | Tyler, Texas		ROSTER	SCHEDULE	STATS

 


A LOOK BACK
 
UT Tyler is off to a tremendous start, as they have now moved to 4-0 on the season. That start is the best in the Division II era and is only behind the 2003 season as the best start in school history.
 
The Patriots posted a pair of 2-0 victories over Ouachita Baptist and RV Rogers State. Against the Tigers, UT Tyler used second half goals to their advantage yet again as they broke the 0-0 tie in the 61^st minute with a strike from Brajdi Cekrezi. One more goal was added in in the 86^th minute to secure the victory.
 
In the battle with the Hillcats, Cekrezi struck again, this time hooking in a cross to teammate Malte Andres to put the Patriots up 1-0 just two minutes into the game. Mathias Eriksen came up huge, posting several clutch saves to keep Rogers State off the board and preserve a victory.
 
WHAT COACH JONES IS SAYING
 
On the big 2-0 weekend: "Those two matches I think really just showed our growth. We could have easily tied those games or even lost, but we had plenty of opportunities to put the game away. I think we can still grow in those areas, but the fact that we took so many shots and played so many players is good."
 
On the week ahead: "Both opponents will be very strong in terms of being familiar with us, and it will be some Lone Star Conference competition. Both games will be well coached and played at the level of a conference game even though they are non-conference."
 
On the leadership and play of Brajdi Cekrezi: "Brajdi is definitely someone who has had a huge impact from the beginning. He's not only been competitive for himself, but he is bringing others with him. He's a great model for all of our guys and hopefully people are listening and modeling that type of response on how to be compelled about their efforts."
 
LONE STAR CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
 
For the first time in the 2022 season, the Patriots have posted a Lone Star Conference Player of the Week as both Brajdi Cekrezi and Mathias Eriksen each earned player of the week honors following standout performances over the last week.
 
For Cekrezi, he had five points over the two matches, including two goals and an assist. One of those goals ended up being a game winner against Ouachita Baptist as he scoring the tiebreaking goal in the 61^st minute. On Saturday against Rogers State, Cekrezi was involved in both goals as he assisted on the first and scored in the final minute of the contest.
 
Eriksen has been the leader in goal for UT Tyler since the 2020 season, and this season has proven no different. He has started in all four games, and has only allowed one goal. He posted six total saves over the weekend slate, with four of those coming against the Hillcats. In that contest, he came away with two clutch saves early in the first half and made a spectacular diving stop late in the game to preserve the victory.
 
HISTORY AGAINST THE RATTLERS
 
Wednesday night will see #21 St. Mary's come to Tyler for just the third time in series history. The most recent matchup in Tyler came back on November 3, 2021 that saw the Patriots come away with a 3-0 victory in some of the worst weather of the season.
 
The all time series matchup stands at 2-4. The two teams have split their series at 1-1 in Tyler, and the Rattlers have a 3-1 advantage on their home turf. The most recent matchup overall came back on November 9, 2021 in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament. In that contest, the Rattlers used two goals in the first 50 minutes to hold the Patriots at bay and earn a 3-1 victory.
 
This will be the fourth time that the Patriots and Rattlers have faced off while the Rattlers have been ranked in the national poll. In the most recent occurrence, the Patriots came away with a 1-0 victory on the road for their first ever win against a ranked opponent in the Division II era.
 
THE RATTLERS THUS FAR
 
#21 St. Mary's will head into the matchup with a 1-0-2 record over the 2022 season. Their lone win came against then #25 CSU-Pueblo by a 2-1 score. The two ties for the Rattlers have come against then #17 West Texas A&M and UC Colorado Springs.
 
Fifth year player Ariel Cardozo leads the Rattlers in the goal scoring and points category with two and four respectively. The Rattlers are led by Johnny Clifford who is in his fifth season as head coach. Clifford has led #21 St. Mary's to the semifinals of the LSC tournament each of the last two seasons and also reached the NCAA Tournament in the 2019 season.
 
NEXT UP
 
Following the matchup against #21 St. Mary's, the Patriots will welcome UT Permian Basin for their final non-conference home game of the season on Saturday, September 17.
 
Following Saturday's contest, the Patriots will hit the road for the second time this season as they take on Texas A&M International on September 21 in Laredo, Texas.