Snyder, TX - Men's soccer began their 2024 season on Thursday with a win against the Jacksonville College Jaguars on Thursday, 3-1.
Head Coach Juan Carlos Michel and his squad opened the regular season at home against the Jacksonville College Jaguars. The 2023 campaign finished in an eight win season and Region V Champion appearance. Western Texas was offensively aggressive to start the morning with multiple shots on goal. The Westerners pushed the Jaguars side of the field for most of the first half. Ruben Roy Ekue Kuevi was the first to threaten the net as he hit the crossbar. On a shot to the right side, Emiliano Duran's strike was saved by the Jacksonville keeper. Duran would try again a few minutes later but miss wide left. At the 33rd minute mark, the Jaguars would foul Darrel Yetedji in the box to set up a penalty kick. His attempt would be blocked by the Jacksonville keeper and keep the two teams scoreless. After multiple chances, the home team finally found the back of the net.
The heat began to come out as the first half came to a close. Both sides showed signs of fatigue with their urgency and stamina. Outside of the box at the 5th minute in the first half, Ryan Alexander Harrison booted the ball on net which was met by the keeper. From a deflection, Christian Roosevelt Agyekum swooped in to kick a line drive to the back of the net. The score finally rewarded the Westerners' aggressiveness in the Jaguars territory. Western Texas went up one goal into halftime, 1-0.
Jacksonville gained their footing in the beginning of the second half. However as the second half continued, the Westerners would extend their lead. At the 36th minute, Myles Taylor was able to get into the box and cause trouble. A deflection off the keeper from an initial shot, Taylor sent it in for the teams second score, 2-0. Just six minutes later, Ekue Kuevi created action in the Jacksonville box. For his second goal of the day, he put his team up by three, 3-0. The Jacksonville College Jaguars scored a goal in the final minutes of the matchup to put the score within two, 3-1.
In their first appearance of the season, the Westerners were able to earn three goals on the day. The team's stellar position throughout the field helped prevent any Jaguar threats and helped push forward. In back-to-back seasons, Western Texas opened the year with a 3-1 victory. After an official win towards the regular season record, the team will play one more scrimmage before returning to the regular schedule for the rest of the year.
UP NEXT: Men's soccer will participate in their last scrimmage of the season against Lubbock Christian University on Saturday, August 24th. Kickoff at home will be at 1pm.
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