Match Info	Opponent Info
Texas A&M International vs. UT Tyler TAMIU: 1-3-3, 0-0 LSC | UTT: 5-0-1, 0-0 LSC Wednesday, Sept. 21 | 7:00 p.m. Dustdevil Field Laredo, Texas		ROSTER	SCHEDULE	STATS

 
 
MORE STRONG DEFENSE
 
The Patriots continue to be extremely effective on defense as they have allowed one goal over their first six games. Their team goals against average is at just .167, which ranks as the top mark in all of NCAA Division II. The Patriots also rank first in shutout percentage at .833 and are first in save percentage at .955.
 
KEY STATS
 
As UT Tyler gets closer to wrapping up their non-conference schedule, the team ranks at the top in several different categories so far this season. The Patriots are first in the LSC in assists per game (2.67), corner kicks per game (6.67), goal differential (+16), save percentage, shots per game (18.83), shutout percentage, and team goals against average.
 
Individually, several Patriots stick out in the early season as strong performers nationally. Mathias Eriksen ranks third in NCAA Division II in goals against average at .214 and second in save percentage at .929.  Nolan Giles ranks fourth in the country in game winning goals, with four. Thato Meko ranks 36^th nationally and third in the LSC in assists per game at .50.
 
A LOOK BACK
 
The Patriots enjoyed another solid week last week. They tightly battled #21 ranked St. Mary's to a 0-0 draw, and then took on a solid UT Permian Basin team and came away with a 2-0 victory. UT Tyler has now stretched out their record to 5-0-1 on the season, and it is the second best start in school history and the best start of the Division II era.
 
WHAT COACH JONES IS SAYING
 
On Saturday's game against UT Permian Basin: "I thought UTPB was a hard working team, very organized, and I thought they were very good. We had some very good individual efforts and we are really happy about that. With both of those games being non-conference last week, we are still focusing on us and strengthen the things that we do well."
 
On the matchup against Texas A&M International: "The message is how can we really focus and do something we haven't done yet, which is go on the road for a long time. Really it's about us knowing it's a different type of opponent than we've played, and really stick to our training."
 
On the depth of the program so far this season: It's very encouraging for sure. It's almost to the point where we don't have starters we just have groups of guys that go in. We are looking at impact, and if you are having an impact, we want to try to make sure we put them in the right place and continue to work towards not just success, but sustaining that moving forward.

REGIONAL RANKINGS

The Patriots have moved up to number six in the latest edition of the United Soccer Coaches South Central Region Rankings. After another strong week with a tie against #21 St. Mary's, and a big 2-0 win against UT Permian Basin the Patriots slid up one spot. Midwestern State held their ground as the top team in the rankings, and they were followed by CSU-Pueblo in the second spot. Oklahoma Christian and St. Mary's come in at second and third, while Colorado Mesa slid down to fifth. 
 

Rank	School	Prev	W-L-T
1	Midwestern State University	1	5-0-1
2	Colorado State University-Pueblo	6	6-2-0
3	Oklahoma Christian University	5	6-0-1
4	St. Mary's University (Texas)	4	2-0-3
5	Colorado Mesa University	2	5-2-0
6	University of Texas-Tyler	7	5-0-2
7	University of Colorado-Colorado Springs	8	5-1-2
8	Metropolitan State University of Denver	10	6-1-1
9	West Texas A&M University	3	2-2-3
10	Colorado School of Mines	9	3-3-2

NATIONAL ATTENTION

For the first time this season, the Patriots are garnering votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll. UT Tyler has looked tremendous thus far, and they will only have more opportunities to prove themselves as three Lone Star Conference opponents are ranked in this weeks poll. Those three opponents are #4 Midwestern State, #17 Oklahoma Christian, and #24 St. Mary's. 
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
Between UT Tyler and Texas A&M International, the two teams have met four times all-time, and the Patriots own a big 3-1 advantage. In their most recent meeting though, it was the Dustdevils who came away with their first win against UT Tyler after a strong 2-0 victory on October 30, 2021.
 
That previous victory by the Dustdevils also marks the first time the Patriots had to make the long trip to Laredo, Texas. In the previous three contests, each game was played in Tyler.
 
SCOUTING OUT THE DUSTDEVILS
 
Texas A&M International ranks as the fourth best team in the LSC in save percentage at .804, and they rank as the top team in saves per game at 5.29. As a team, the Dustdevils are 1-3-3 on the year and are scoring .71 goals per game while allowing 1.29 per game. Most recently, the Dustdevils have played to a 0-0 draw against UT Permian Basin and a 1-1 draw against DBU.
 
On the individual side, the Dustdevils are led by senior Lassana Diakite in the goal scoring category. Diakite has four of the Dustdevils five goals this season, including two against Fort Hays State. Tajani Fairclough leads in assists with two, with one against Regis and another against DBU.
 
Coaching the Dustdevils is long time head coach Claudio Arias. Arias is in his 16^th season as men's head coach and fourth as the Director of Soccer Operations at Texas A&M International. During his tenure, Arias has led the Dustdevils to three Heartland Conference championships.
 
NEXT ON THE SLATE
 
Wednesday will mark the final non-conference game for UT Tyler this season. The Patriots will then get a 10 day break before getting back to action on October 1 against UT Permian Basin for their LSC opener. That game will be on the road in Odessa, Texas as the Patriots will begin their run at their first Lone Star Conference title in program history.