Blow for Blow in San Antonio: Stallions Land the Final Strike for 3–2 Victory
Written By Rev. Justin C. Jackson
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — This one felt like a heavyweight title fight. Back and forth. Blow for blow. Momentum swinging like a pendulum between two proud programs. In the end, the Stallions from North American University landed the decisive strike to take down the Our Lady of the Lake Saints, 3-2, in a thrilling late-October clash that had the energy of a championship round.
From the opening whistle, you could feel the tension. Houston versus San Antonio. Stallions versus Saints. Passion versus love. Soccer versus fútbol. And it lived up to every bit of the hype.
The first punch came in the 41st minute when Reynaldo Vanegas broke the ice with a strike that silenced the home crowd and gave the Stallions a 1–0 lead heading into halftime. But the Saints answered in the second half, converting a pair of unassisted goals — one off a penalty — to swing the momentum back in their favor, 2–1.
Then came the response. The Stallions, true to their name, charged forward. Wilman Landaverde, the man with ice in his veins, leveled the score at 2–2 in the 66th minute with a penalty kick that sent the NAU sideline into a frenzy. But he wasn't done yet. With just under four minutes left in regulation, Landaverde found himself in perfect position for a bouncing pass that he lofted with pinpoint precision. The ball danced through the air — knuckling, spinning, and somehow accelerating as it curved past the outstretched left hand of the Saints' goalkeeper. Net. Game. Stallions up 3–2.
Captain Isaiah "El Toro" Castillo, the heart and soul of this Stallion squad, set the tone for leadership throughout. Known among his teammates as "The General," Castillo exemplified NAU's Champions of Character spirit when he intentionally stopped play, sending the ball to the touch line while a teammate was injured. That moment of integrity spoke just as loud as any goal scored.
Between the posts, Gino Burioni held firm — recording six saves on eight shots, commanding his box with poise and grit under pressure.
By the final whistle, the Stallions had outshot the Saints 21–14, including a 17-shot second half that reflected the relentless pace and hunger of a team determined to finish what they started.
This win marks another statement moment for North American University — a team that continues to prove that heart, discipline, and brotherhood can overcome any scoreboard swing.
Next up, the Stallions return to action Saturday, October 25 at 3:30 PM CDT as they face Texas A&M–San Antonio. Fans can follow the action live at tamusasports.com/links/2d28tr.
Final Score:
North American University – 3
Our Lady of the Lake – 2
Goal Scorers:
Shots on Goal: NAU 11 | OLLU 8
Saves: NAU 6 | OLLU 8
Corner Kicks: NAU 7 | OLLU 6
Attendance: 89
Hooves up and GOOOOOOO STALLIONS!!!!!!!
