RRAC Men's Soccer Players of the Week for October 22-28

WACO, Texas – Fernando Mendoza helped lead the University of Texas-Brownsville to its first Red River Athletic Conference championship and was named RRAC Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for Oct. 22-28. Mendoza’s teammate, Juan Gamboa, received the RRAC’s defensive player of the week honor for his play in the conference tournament.

Mendoza, a junior forward from Granada, Spain, scored both goals in the Scorpions’ 2-1 RRAC tournament semifinal victory over Texas College, including the game-winner that came 1:48 into overtime. In the championship match, UTB and Texas Wesleyan University played to a scoreless tie through two overtimes and the game was decided by alternating penalty kicks. Mendoza was called on first for UTB, and he scored on his attempt as the Scorpions went on to win 3-1 in the shootout. UTB advances to the NAIA Region VI Championship with a 13-4-1 record in the first year of the program.         

Gamboa, a freshman goalkeeper from Brownsville, Texas, didn’t allow a single goal in 202 minutes in goal to set the stage for UTB’s tournament title. He had five saves against TC in 92 minutes in goal before going the distance with a shutout against TWU. Gamboa denied six more shots in the championship match and had a save on the second penalty kick by TWU. The Scorpions claimed both the regular season and tournament titles this season.

TWU’s goalkeeper, Joakim Soderbaum, was also nominated for the defensive award as the Rams reached the conference final. TWU also advances to the NAIA Region VI Championship.

-RRAC-