Swift First-Half Surge Leads North American to 5-2 Victory over Huston-Tillotson

By Rev. Justin C. Jackson, Sports Information Director, North American University

ROUND ROCK, Texas – With the season winding down and every point crucial, the North American University Stallions rode into Round Rock on Thursday with a clear mission: to take control early, assert their offensive firepower, and keep postseason hopes burning bright. Our thanks go to the Red River Athletic Conference's premier statistician, Alan Wiederhold-Sohn, whose comprehensive coverage documented this commanding 5-2 Stallions victory, highlighting North American's early barrage that left Huston-Tillotson struggling to recover.

The Stallions wasted no time getting on the board, with Ryota Ishizuka proving to be a true field general. Within five minutes of the whistle, he served up a pristine assist to Joan Remo Morales, who scored on a towering header that cut right through HT's defense. The Rams were left stunned as Ishizuka continued to press, scoring his own back-to-back goals by the 20th minute, one assisted by Pedro Ortega and another by a combined effort from Reynaldo Vanegas and Joseph Figueroa. The Stallions suddenly found themselves up 3-0, creating an energy that electrified both the bench and the fans, and they weren't done yet.

Before halftime, Gabriel Da Cunha added a fourth goal, connecting powerfully in the 37th minute from inside the box after a setup by Vanegas. The Stallions entered the break with a stunning 4-0 lead, and while HT fought to rally in the second half, clawing back with goals by Armando Garcia and Christian Kisukulu in the 52nd and 66th minutes, respectively, North American's defense held firm. And just when it looked like the Rams might be building momentum, Ishizuka orchestrated yet another setup for William Ours, who found the back of the net in the 85th minute, putting an exclamation mark on the day's performance.

For Huston-Tillotson (3-6-2, 2-6-1 RRAC), this match marked a critical missed opportunity to climb the RRAC standings. With only the top eight teams earning berths in the conference tournament, each contest now holds make-or-break potential, and the Rams will need a quick recovery as they prepare to face Xavier (La.) on Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Onion Creek Soccer Complex in Austin.

On the Pitch
In a game that saw dynamic performances from both teams, here's how the numbers fell:

• Joan Remo Morales kicked things off with the first goal for North American in the 6th minute, assisted by Ryota Ishizuka.
• Ryota Ishizuka proved unstoppable early on, scoring two of his own in the 13th and 20th minutes, with assists from Pedro Ortega, Reynaldo Vanegas, and Joseph Figueroa.
• Gabriel Da Cunha added North American's fourth goal before halftime, assisted by Vanegas in the 37th minute.
• Armando Garcia put the Rams on the board in the 52nd minute with an assist from Albright Wesley Suh.
• Christian Kisukulu headed in the Rams' second goal in the 66th minute, assisted by Fritz Del Negro.
• William Ours scored an insurance goal for North American in the 85th minute, with Ishizuka chalking up another assist.

Final Score: North American University Stallions 5, Huston-Tillotson Rams 2

By the Numbers

• Shots on Goal: North American 14, HT 7
• Saves: North American 5, HT 9
• Fouls: North American 12, HT 10
• Corner Kicks: Both teams tallied 3 each

Upcoming
North American University (5-7-2, 3-5-2 RRAC) now turns its focus to the University of Houston-Victoria. Saturday's match in Victoria, Texas, could be another critical step in the Stallions' postseason campaign.