The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros opened their 2026 men's soccer season with a dramatic 3‑2 victory over the University of West Florida Argonauts on Saturday night at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
A Late Surge Turns the Tide
The Argonauts struck first when Tobias Gjesdahl found the net in the 29th minute, giving UWF a 1‑0 edge. Just moments later, Mouhamed Pouye answered with a well‑hit shot that restored parity before halftime.
The deadlock was broken in the 67th minute when Emmanuel Gore Bi, a newcomer to the Vaqueros lineup, recorded his first career goal to level the score at 2‑2. The momentum shifted again in the 79th minute when Malang Mandiang finished a swift counterattack, slotting the ball past the UWF keeper to clinch a 3‑2 win.
Coach Carlos Mendoza praised the team's resilience, noting that the young players stepped up when it mattered most. 'We knew we had to stay focused after going behind, and the guys showed character,' he said.
The Vaqueros will look to carry this momentum into their next fixture, a home opener against Stetson scheduled for Sunday at 10 a.m. All UTRGV Athletics events at the Soccer and Track & Field Complex are free to the public, though spectators are reminded to adhere to the clear bag policy.
With the season just beginning, the team hopes the early win will set a positive tone for the weeks ahead, as they aim to compete strongly in the upcoming conference schedule.