UTB/TSC Scorpions News
Scorpions celebrate after winning 2009 Red River Athletic Conference championship for third straight year
Scorpions celebrate after winning 2009 Red River Athletic Conference championship for third straight year
Men's Soccer - 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 18, 2010
An undefeated season would be a success in just about anybody's book.

But the way the 2009 season ended for UTB/TSC left the Scorpion men's soccer team hungrier than ever for even better results.

UTB/TSC finished last season as the only unbeaten team in the country with a 17-0-2 record. However, the Scorpions lost on penalty kicks to Biola University (Calif.), 4-3, after a 2-2 tie in regulation and two overtimes in an NAIA National Men's Soccer Championship Opening Round game at home.

"While we exceeded our goals during the season, we still have a very bitter taste in our mouths that we did not qualify for the last 16 teams in the nation," Scorpion head coach Dan Balaguero said. "Looking back on the season, going 17-0-2 being ranked 15 and seeded sixth in the nation and having the best win percentage in the county is a big time achievement, one the players should be proud of.

"It was great to host the Opening Round," Balaguero said. "However in my view unless you go to the final site you have not really made the national tournament. It is extremely hard to do that, but that is our goal for the upcoming season."

The Scorpions will be big targets for every opponent this season. Winning the conference is the priority, and the Scorpions will be big targets for every team on its schedule, especially RRAC opponents. Every team wants to beat a team that has not lost a conference game in three years.

"It gives you experience and respect," Balaguero said. "We are at the stage where we want to always be in the top 25 and be recognized and respected by the top programs. I believe past success has made that possible for us."

To bolster his team's chances of more postseason success, Balaguero has put together a solid recruiting class. The Scorpions lost only two seniors -- standout defender Brian Hardie and forward Enrique Rivera.
 
Balaguero may have found a solid replacement for Hardie in Padraic Ormsby from Dublin, Ireland.
 
"Padraic will add a lot of quality to our backline," Balaguero said. "I feel we once again have a tremendous class coming in. Look for Morten to add quality right away and DeAndre Brown has the potential to be a fan favorite."
 
Goalkeepers
Juan Gamboa has been a big reason for the Scorpions' success over the first three years. He has started every game for the last two years except for one when Balaguero rested him. The senior was First Team All-Conference and was a big part of eight shutouts in 2009. He will be backed up by freshman Mauricio Lugo and sophomore Zack Gorman.
 
Defenders
The Scorpions bring back a lot of experience with returners Omar Apodaca, Robert Burger, Robin Ejdeholm, Rogelio Perez and Chris Scott. Apodaca, a First Team All-RRAC player in 2009, will start the season on the injured list.  Ormsby figures to be battling for playing time with the experienced players and Erlend Thorvaldsen provides additional depth at the position. Perez will be playing his fourth year with the Scorpions.
 
Midfielders
"Look for us to have a lot of strength in the midfield, and we will be strong all over the field," Balaguero said. "We also we will have a lot of depth which will prove critical come postseason play."
 
Jose Galvan and Steve Howard each have two years experience with the Scorpions, and Fredrick Ekvall earned RRAC All-First Team honors last year. Burger and Ejdeholm can also play midfield. Nestor Morales returns to provide depth along with transfer Jair Reyna, and freshmen Morten Benested, Aron Ekberg, Ernie Hernandez, and Jean Paul Piacente.
 
Forwards
Two Scorpions who earned First Team All-RRAC honors lead a strong group.
Talented sophomore Mario Perez, who received NAIA All-America Third Team honors, scored six goals and had seven assists playing the right wing. Aaron Guerrero, who led the team with nine goals last year, and strong senior Juan Nava give the Scorpions more firepower.
 
DeAndre Brown is a strong newcomer who will battle for time on the pitch.