VICTORIA, Texas — September 26, 2026 — RRAC Soccer is better than FIFA.
Well!!  Not really.  But when conference play begins, even a 1-1 draw can feel like 90 minutes of playoff soccer.
North American University opened Red River Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Texas A&M University-Victoria at The Cage, moving the Stallions to 2-2-1 overall and 0-0-1 in RRAC play.
A&M-Victoria struck first when Brayan Lino scored in the ninth minute, but the Stallions answered quickly. Desailly Bastien-Cowan found the equalizer at 13:32, scoring his second goal of the season to bring the match level at 1-1.
And that's where the chess match began.
Neither team could find the deciding goal over the final 76 minutes.
Goalkeeper Battle Keeps It Level
North American goalkeeper Lutho Mkaba played all 90 minutes and came up with four saves, helping the Stallions withstand an A&M-Victoria attack that produced 13 shots.
On the other end, Jaguars goalkeeper Emil Vernhamn also recorded four saves.
Both teams finished with five shots on goal, and both goalkeepers made sure the scoreboard stayed frozen at 1-1.
Sometimes a goalkeeper doesn't need to make 10 saves to change a game. Sometimes four big ones are enough to earn your team a point.
Saturday, Mkaba did his part.
Stallions Create Their Chances
North American finished with 10 shots, led by Fernando Lopez Montoya, who recorded three attempts and put two on goal.
Bastien-Cowan added the Stallions' lone goal, while Reynaldo Vanegas also registered a shot on frame.
A&M-Victoria applied more pressure after halftime, outshooting North American 9-4 in the second half. The Stallions' defense, however, continued to battle and kept the Jaguars from finding the go-ahead goal.
That is conference soccer.
It isn't always pretty.
It isn't always FIFA.
But it counts.
By the Numbers
1 — Desailly Bastien-Cowan goal
3 — Fernando Lopez Montoya shots
2 — Lopez Montoya shots on goal
10 — North American total shots
5 — North American shots on goal
4 — Lutho Mkaba saves
13 — A&M-Victoria total shots
5 — A&M-Victoria shots on goal
3 — North American corner kicks
13 — Fouls for each team
90 — Minutes played by Mkaba
A Point on the Road
The Stallions didn't leave Victoria with three points, but they didn't leave empty-handed either.
North American opened conference play on the road against an unbeaten Jaguars team, answered an early goal and defended through a second half filled with A&M-Victoria pressure.
The result gives the Stallions their first RRAC point of the season and sets the tone for what conference play is going to demand.
One match down.
The conference race is underway.
Up Next
The Stallions return home Thursday, October 1, when North American hosts Southwest at 3:30 p.m. MDT.
After earning a road point to open RRAC play, the Stallions will look to turn that momentum into three points on their home field.
RRAC play is here.
Hooves Up! ??
