TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler men's soccer again kept their postseason hopes alive as they picked up a critical 2-2 draw against RV St. Mary's on Wednesday night.
 
The Patriots held an 18-1-2 record since 2021 when scoring first heading into tonight's game. You can add a third tie to that mark as the Patriots found their way into the goal just eight minutes into the contest.
 
That goal was just the second shot of the contest as Jordan Toy picked up a clearance and burnt his defender down the right side before going on a 40 yard sprint and slotting home his first goal of the season.
 
That goal led to a rally from the Rattlers, as they put a pair of shots on net but keeper Luke Ryan was there to make the solid saves. However, that pressure eventually earned a corner kick, and the Rattlers found their mark to even up the contest at 1-1.
 
The two teams would settle into a defensive stalemate, with just two shots combined over the next 15 minutes of action. The Patriots finally earned a throw-in deep into Rattlers territory, and Nori Ito took over from there. He launched the throw deep into the box, and a streaking Omar Belahna found his head and hit a bouncing shot that found the netting and gave the Patriots the lead right back.
 
In the closing seconds of the half, RV St. Mary's again came up big as they earned another corner from the same side of the field. That corner was again launched deep into the box, and the Rattlers again found their way to it for their second goal of the contest.
 
Over the first eight minutes of the second half, both teams would put up a pair of shots on target, but both keepers held their lines and kept the match at a draw.
 
The Rattlers would muster up just one more shot for the remainder of the contest, as the Patriots put on all of the offensive pressure trying to find the game winning goal. Thato Meko put his first shot on goal in the 71^st minute, but the Rattlers keeper was there with the diving stop.
 
Belahna looked for his second goal of the evening in the 77^th minute as he found himself free on goal, but his shot went just wide and cleared out for a goal kick.
 
The key moments in the contest came in the final 10 minutes, as the two teams posted two shots on goal and the Patriots struck a pair that found the woodwork and just stayed out.
 
Toy again was the catalyst for Patriots offense, as he broke free yet again in the 81^st minute but his shot just glanced off the right post. Nine seconds later, Luis Mahecha had a big opportunity, but the Rattlers keeper stayed strong.
 
The final chance of the night came in the 89^th minute, as Rodrigo Mendes struck a near perfect shot but just found the right post and managed to stay out of the goal.
 
As a team, the Patriots held a 16-13 shots advantage, but St. Mary's held an 8-6 advantage in shots on goal.
 
Jordan Toy picked up his first goal of the year and his first as a Patriot on the evening.
 
For Belahna, he scored his second goal of the year and his first since September 9 against Jarvis Christian.