Men´s Soccer Battles TAMIU to Scoreless Draw

SAN ANTONIO — The Rattlers saw double again Monday, playing into double overtime with Texas A&M International University before closing out with a scoreless draw that twice saw the ball nearly bounce in the Dustdevils’ favor.

After falling to East Central in double overtime last Tuesday, the Rattlers (0-2-1, 0-0-1 in conference) pounded for another 110-minute contest, sparring in equally-matched, two yellow-cards-apiece aggressive play with the Dustdevils (1-2-2, 0-0-1 in conference). The game remained a stalemate from the solid work of both goalies that denied a lead being established in either direction. But in the final minutes St. Mary’s also received protection from a different staff.

“It’s always nice that you know that you have the posts helping you out,” says Rattler keeper Patrick Kasperitis, “to make a few saves for you.”

As the clock dwindled in the second set of extra play, the 106-minute-mark saw a clean shot from Dustdevil Eduardo Gonzalez that stretched beyond the gloves of Kasperitis (Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas). A would-be golden-goal celebration pinged off the right bar, however, as the Rattlers’ goal post racked up its first save of the game. Jetting down into Rattler territory just two minutes later, Dustdevil Juan Ramirez was also stunted after his shot worked its way past Kasperitis only to bang off the white, metal defender of the goal post once more in the 108th minute, ending the game at 0-0.

“That’s always a plus,” joked Kasperitis, referring to the two close calls.

Just shy of two hours in front of the net, Kasperitis made five saves on his own in the double-overtime battle with Texas A&M International University.

Although scoreless, the contest was far from a no-looks game, with both teams combining for a total of 30 shots on the day. The Rattlers proved more accurate with eight shots on goal from their 13 shots compared to the Dustdevils’ five shots on goal out of their 17 shots.

Leading in footwork was Anthony Bustos (Sr., Helotes, Texas), who had a team-high three shots, all of which were shot on goal. His fellow senior Andrew Carrasco (Corpus Christi, Texas) was next in line with two shots, both on goal. Jose Chavez (Sr., Garland, Texas), Zach Strater (So., Carrollton, Texas) and Garrett Larrington (Fr., Houston) all just missed a game-winner for the Rattlers with one shot on goal apiece.

After two double-doozies, the Rattlers will have a quick turnaround facing Oklahoma Christian University Thursday at Northside ISD soccer field at 2:30 p.m.

“Even with a quick schedule, we all should be fine,” Kasperitis said.

St. Mary’s University, as a Catholic Marianist University, fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community service, integrated liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence. The University has six athletic national titles: men’s basketball (1989–NAIA), baseball (2001–NCAA Div. II), softball (1986–NAIA and 2002–NCAA Div. II) and an individual national champion in men’s golf (2006–NCAA Div. II) and a national academic championship in men’s golf (2009–NCAA Div. II). St. Mary’s also had more than 40 percent of its athletes named to conference, regional and/or national honor rolls this past year. St. Mary’s student–athletes graduation rate is 65 percent, higher than the NCAA Division II average of 55 percent. To learn more about St. Mary's, visit www.stmarytx.edu/athletics.

    

Coaching Staff

Head Coach Que Willis

Querande "Que" Willis enters the 2012 season as the longest-tenured coach in the history of the St. Mary's men's soccer program, racking up over 50 victories along the way.

In fact, Willis, in his 10th year with the school, needs just eight more victories to become the winningest coach in the program's history. He has guided the Rattlers to a 53-97-6 record over the past nine years.

Willis has helped 34 Rattlers earn all-conference honors since 2003, including five last season -- and 29 since 2006. In addition to the team's on-field successes, Joseph Diaz was honored in 2010 as an ESPN Academic All-District pick.

St. Mary's went 4-12-0 in 2011, upsetting rival on the Rattlers' makeshift home field, the Northside ISD Sports Complex. The Rattlers spent a season without a real home in 2011, and will again do so in 2012 as their home field at St. Mary's is undergoing renovations as part of the new outdoor sports complex.

St. Mary's went 4-13-0 in 2010, again upsetting rival St. Edward's on the road and nearly knocking off nationally ranked Midwestern State in a 2-1 defeat at home.

In 2007, the Rattlers posted their highest win total in six years, going 8-11 overall and finishing third in the Heartland Conference. St. Mary's started the season 4-2 and had a 7-2 record at home. Six Rattlers earned All-Heartland Conference honors that season.

During the 2004 and 2005 seasons, the team played in the Southwest Soccer Conference, one of the top leagues in the nation as it was made up of teams from both the Heartland Conference and Lone Star Conference.

Prior to taking the reins as the Rattlers head coach, Willis served as an assistant coach in the Rattler soccer program for two years. He assisted coaching both the men's and the women's teams.

During those two years, he helped the men's team to a 19-13-4 record, including a 12-5-3 mark in 2002, good for second place in the Heartland Conference standings. They advanced to the Heartland Tournament Championship game both seasons with Willis on the staff.

While assisting the women's soccer team, Willis helped the squad to a 20-13-1 record over two seasons. The Rattlers advanced to the Heartland Conference Tournament in 2002, then won the tournament in 2003, defeating Incarnate Word, 2-1.

As a four-year letterwinner for the Rattler soccer team from 1996-99, Willis earned two All-American awards and two Heart of Texas Conference Most Valuable Player awards. In his freshman season, Willis was named Heart of Texas Newcomer of the Year, paving the way for what would become one of the most dynamic careers in the program's history.

Willis came to San Antonio from Plano East High School in Plano, Texas. In addition to assisting Corwyn Ritch for the three years prior to becoming head coach, Willis has coached numerous club soccer teams in San Antonio and Dallas. He also currently coaches the Dallas Texans Football Club "Blues".

Willis is a 2001 graduate of St. Mary's with a bachelor of arts degree in computer science.

2012 St. Mary's Men's Soccer Roster