TYLER, TEXAS – Nori Ito, Raul Carrillo, Angel Miranda, Andre Cavichione, Johnathan Sosa, Ralph Mangondoza, Brook Williams, Craig Chisholm, and Lukas Paulun were all recognized for senior day prior to the contest
and several of those seniors played a key part in the Patriots win over DBU by a score of 3-2.
 
Two goals from Thato Meko as well as a goal from senior Johnathan Sosa gave the Patriots all the insurance they need as they extend their unbeaten streak out to six consecutive games.
 
DBU struck first in the contest, as they connected on a pair of key passes that got them all the way down to the touch line before another pass went right across the goal mouth before being punched in for a 1-0 lead just 17 minutes into the game.
 
The Patriots were not deterred, as over the next 21 minutes they did not allow a shot while posting five of their own including a pair on goal by Philip Akem Jr and Luis Mahecha.
 
Meko was the one to finally break through on goal, as he made a fantastic individual effort to tie up the contest. His effort saw him split several defenders before finishing off the goal with his right foot at the 43 minute mark of the first half.
 
That goal seemed to slide all of the momentum to the Patriots, and they capitalized quickly in the second half as just eight minutes in Johnathan Sosa scored his second goal of the season to make it 2-1. That goal was one of the best of the night as Hugo Marques and Ben Asiaba each connected on a pair of perfect passes that found a streaking Sosa for the lead.
 
However, DBU would not go away, as they picked up their second goal of the contest just under two minutes later and the game was tied yet again.
 
The final goal of the night was one of the most dramatic, as Meko was the catalyst yet again. He made a big run on a loose ball and put himself out in front all alone, but the DBU keeper took him down on the run and forced Meko to the penalty spot. Meko would calmy convert the shot to make it 3-2 and give the Patriots the final edge they needed.

With 19 minutes remaining, the Patriots defense put the clamps down, not allowing DBU a single attempt at tying the game. The final shot that DBU had was their second goal back in the 55^th minute, showing yet again how solid the Patriots back line can be.
 
UT Tyler outshot DBU 18-3 overall in the contest, and that included an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal.
 
Thato Meko with his two goals moves into a tie for the team lead in goals scored with Lukas Paulun. All three of Meko's goals have come in the last two games.
 
Johnathan Sosa moves up to second on the team with two goals, joining Meko and Paulun as the only three players with more than one.
 
Saturday's game marks the second time this season that a player was involved in two different goals scored, joining Craig Chisholm who scored and assisted on two goals back on September 2^nd.

Next up for UT Tyler will be one final non-conference game as they play host to Texas A&M International at Citizens 1st Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex on September 27th. That game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. kickoff and will also serve as Youth Day.