Dustdevils Aim to Improve on Successful 08 Season

The Texas A&M International Mens Soccer Team finished the 2008 season with a strong 12-5-1 record and a third place finish in the Heartland Conference at 5-4-1. To improve on that success in 09, Head Coach Claudio Arias and his charges will have to do it while losing 9 seniors to graduation, including 2008 Conference Player of the Year Greg Mulamba.

Mulamba finished his career at TAMIU in 2008 ranked sixth on the TAMIU career list in goals (13) and total points (32). Mulamba, along with fellow senior Albert Escovar were named First Team All-Conference. Seniors Adeyemi Gill and Victor Garcia were named to the All-Conference Second Team. Soamy Bautista embarks on his Junior season for the Dustdevils. He also earned second team All-Conference honors in 08. In an effort to hewn his skills in the off season, Bautista had a successful Summer season with the Laredo Heat of the PDL (Professional Developmental League).

The Dustdevils have another tough schedule in 2009, including fellow Heartland Conference foes Midwestern St., who is currently ranked #5 in the nation in the NCAA Div ll pre-season poll, and teams like Incarnate Word and W. Texas A&M just to name a few. The Dustdevils have other capable players to step in and fill the roles left by the departing seniors, such as Junior Forward Alejandro Castillo, a transfer from Concordia-Nebraska. While playing for the Bulldogs back in 2005, Castillo scored 5 goals and finished with 14 points that year. He will be looked upon to provide scoring for the Dustdevils. Also returning for his Senior season is Forward Roy Hernandez. The Houston, TX native played his first two collegiate season at San Jacinto Jr. College where he scored 11 goals as a Freshman and 12 as a Sophomore. The Dustdevils will need his scoring punch in 09 if they are to compete for a conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Div. ll Tournament.

Texas A&M International University, located in Laredo, TX on the Mexican border, is a member of the Heartland Conference in NCAA Div. ll. Head Coach Claudio Arias begins his sixth season this Fall as Head Coach of the Dustdevils with a total record of 50-34-5 while at TAMIU. Last year's 12-5-1 record was the program's best record in 4 seasons.