SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – UT Tyler played strong soccer for nearly 80 minutes but a late goal with just under 12 minutes left in the contest ultimately gave #9 St. Mary's the edge they needed.
 
It was a typical tight battle between UT Tyler and #9 St. Mary's throughout the first half and well into the second half as neither side was willing to give an inch. Both sides would post four shots each in the first half with the final three from the Patriots each going on goal.
 
With four brand new goalkeepers on the roster, it was safe to say there would be some questions about how they would look early. However, Diego Berlingeri wasted no time in making a solid save in the 19^th minute to keep the clean sheet and answer those questions.
 
The first shot on goal of the season for UT Tyler came off of the foot of Luis Mahecha, who struck a solid shot at the 29:59 mark of the first half but it was saved by the Rattlers keeper.
 
That shot seemed to spark a downhill run for the Patriots, as they pushed the Rattlers defense back into their own end considerably over the final 15 minutes of the first half. The most notable chances of the first half and maybe of the game for UT Tyler came with just under three minutes left.
 
A beautiful through ball down the sideline to Mahecha gave him space to run, and he hit a rocket that was saved with a diving stop to the keepers right. The ball was cleared, but it landed right at Bryan Rivas-Guzman's feet and he quickly sent the ball back into the danger area. Jose Ramos collected it, and he hit another hard shot but the keeper again stayed solid and made the save.
 
The second half began slowly for the Patriots, as #9 St. Mary's took their turn on the attack and pressed them early. They would put up three shots in the first 12 minutes, forcing second half keeper Angus Johnson to be on his toes.
 
A key throw in was earned 15 minutes into the second half, and it spurred on a sequence that saw the Patriots just miss on a pair of shots before Rodrigo Mendes hit a laser that saw the Rattlers keeper make another strong save.
 
Five minutes later, it was Mahecha again getting a shot on goal off of a brilliant set piece. Mendes swung it deep into the box from the left side, and Lukas Paulun put a great header on the ball to the back post where Mahecha came charging in. Mahecha's header was inches from the net but the Rattlers keeper again made a brilliant save.
 
The last solid shot of the night came from Paulun, as he roped in a shot from just outside the box but the Rattlers again made the save and forced a corner kick.
 
That would ultimately prove to be the last shot on goal of the night for the Patriots as #9 St. Mary's began to ramp up the pressure little by little. That pressure would come to a head at the 78:44 mark, as the Rattlers connected on a Patriots turnover with a shot that found its way inside the left post to make it 1-0.
 
The Patriots would put pressure back on the Rattlers over the final 12 minutes, but were unsuccessful in getting the tying goal as they fell by a final score of 1-0 in the 2023 season opener.
 
UT Tyler was outshot 10-9 on the night, but won the shots on goal battle by a mark of 6-2.
 
Luis Mahecha led with a game high four shots, with three of those going on goal.
 
The Patriots will have a quick turnaround for their next match as they now welcome in #2 CSU Pueblo to Citizens First Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex for a Saturday afternoon matchup. That contest will kick off at 1 p.m.