The Texas A&M University-San Antonio men’s soccer team made history Saturday, Oct. 24, claiming its first conference championship with a 2-0 victory over Texas A&M-Victoria to secure the Red River Athletic Conference regular season title. This also marked the first conference team championship in Jaguar Athletics history.
The championship is a significant milestone for the program, which has established itself as a contender in conference play. The Jaguars enter the postseason with an 11-3-1 overall record, a 7-2 conference record and a three-game winning streak.
“Winning the first conference championship for Jaguar Athletics is a moment we can all be proud of,” said Head Coach Roberto Jaramillo. “Our players have worked hard and shown a great commitment to each other throughout the season. This achievement also belongs to the coaches, staff, families, and supporters who have helped our program grow. It’s a special moment for our team and an important step forward for Jaguar Athletics.”
The soccer team’s success has been built on consistent performances throughout the season. The Jaguars opened the year with consecutive victories over Schreiner University and Oklahoma City University before continuing their strong play through conference competition. In October, the team recorded decisive wins over Louisiana Christian University, Texas College, Our Lady of the Lake University and North American University ahead of the championship-clinching match.
The Jaguars have also demonstrated their strength at home, compiling an 8-0 record on their home field. Their overall performance throughout the season positioned them to compete for the conference title heading into the final match of the regular season.
Against Texas A&M-Victoria, A&M-San Antonio secured the championship with goals from Nawfal Hadj-Hamou and Angel Guzman. Hadj-Hamou scored in the game’s 11th minute off an assist from Juan Chavez, while Guzman added a second goal shortly after halftime on a pass from JuanChi Rodriguez. Goalkeeper Dominic Pena recorded two saves to preserve the shutout.
“This championship shows what’s possible when you give student-athletes the support and opportunity to compete,” said Jaramillo. “Our student-athletes have an opportunity to represent their University, compete at a high level, and grow as individuals. I’m especially proud of our players for believing in what we are building and for the example they are setting for future Jaguars.”
The victory confirmed the Jaguars as regular season conference champions and established a new milestone for the University’s athletics department. The achievement reflects the team’s work throughout the season and adds to the continued growth of the men’s soccer program.
With the regular season championship secured, the Jaguars will turn their attention to the Red River Athletic Conference tournament as they continue their postseason run and pursue an opportunity to qualify for the NAIA national tournament.
A&M-San Antonio, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, will compete in the conference semifinals Thursday, Nov. 5, at 5 p.m. against the lowest remaining seed. The second semifinal is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with LSU Alexandria facing the highest remaining seed.
A&M-San Antonio is the host for the semifinals and championship games, which will be held on the University’s new field at One University Way, San Antonio, TX 78224.
The championship match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1:30 p.m.
The Jaguars will look to carry their historic regular season momentum into the tournament as they continue competing for a conference tournament title and a place in the NAIA postseason.