Hobbs, NM – It was a wild weekend for the North American University Stallions as the men's soccer team faced the University of the Southwest in a match that had more drama than a Saturday night Vegas Fight. The game kicked off with both teams ready for battle, but it wasn't long before the skies opened up and Mother Nature threw a lightning storm into the mix, causing a 17-hour delay—yes, you read that right. Yet, the Stallions weathered the storm both literally and figuratively, fighting back from a 1-0 deficit to secure a hard-earned 2-2 draw.

"We came out flat early on, and an unlucky deflection gave Southwest the lead," Coach Dane Smith reflected after the match. "But once the game resumed after that long delay, the guys showed true character."

NAU fell behind at the 39:19 mark in the first half when Southwest's Ricardo Firmat pounced on an unassisted chance to put his side up 1-0. Lightning soon struck—not just figuratively, as the game was paused due to a series of electrical storms in the area. With 40:54 remaining in the second half, the game resumed on Sunday with the Stallions facing the weather and an uphill battle.

But NAU wasn't ready to call it quits. Their response came swiftly and decisively, thanks to some stellar play from Alejandro Perez, who equalized in the 57th minute with a well-placed shot that sent ripples through the Southwest defense. The home crowd, however, wouldn't be silenced for long. At 68:58, Southwest's Richard Wohl found the net again with an assist from Yahir Chacon, giving the Mustangs a 2-1 lead.

With the game slipping away, NAU's Wilman Landaverde delivered a crucial goal in the 79th minute to level the score at 2-2. Landaverde, who had four shots on goal throughout the match, was a constant thorn in Southwest's side. His offensive presence, coupled with the gritty midfield work of Alejandro Noboa and strong defensive displays from Cris Orellana and William Ours, set the tone for the Stallions.

"We were relentless," Coach Smith noted. "The effort from Cris, William, and the entire team was outstanding. It wasn't the win we were after, but the determination these guys showed was something special."

Both teams worked hard to take each other out of their game plans. NAU's attack was aggressive, racking up 14 total shots with 8 on target. Southwest, though outshot, found the net twice and managed to counter NAU's relentless pressure, taking advantage of quick transitions to trouble the Stallions' defense.

Goalkeeper Gino Burioni kept NAU in the match with two crucial saves, while Southwest's Jeremy Rueda was a force between the sticks, recording six saves to deny NAU the victory.

This match was more than just soccer—it was a test of resilience. As Coach Smith looks ahead to the next battle, a challenging road game against Xavier University in New Orleans, he remains confident that this performance will serve as a springboard for what's to come.

"There's still a lot to work on as we prepare for the RRAC matchup, but I'm proud of how we fought back. This was a complete team effort," Smith concluded.

As the Stallions head back to campus, fans should take a moment to rally behind their team. Whether rain, shine, or lightning, NAU is proving that they're never backing down.

Let's hear it for our Stallions – GOOOOO STALLIONSSSSS!