Winds, War Hawks Stifle Rattlers Late

File Photo (Antonio Morano Photography)

SAN ANTONIO — Just as an impending storm seemed to approach Northside ISD Soccer Field Thursday, the Rattlers were on the cusp of a victory.

After beating them for their first victory in a shutout in late September, the Rattlers (2-7-1, 1-4-1 in conference) hoped for a similar scenario against McMurry University (4-8-0) Thursday. Instead, they were faced with a battle-driven team who shelled out a 2-1 victory over the Rattlers, as well as five yellow cards.   

All the goals came in the first half, with the War Hawks finding help from deflections. McMurry first connected in the 13th minute when a free kick ricocheted off a St. Mary’s player, enabling War Hawk James Ness a clear shot at the net. Their second goal came five minutes later in quick glance as a ball bounced from keeper Patrick Kasperitis’ (Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas) hands right into War Hawk Juan Isacura’s lane for an unprotected, close shot at the net to make it 2-0.

With the half nearing an end, the Rattlers found their goal through freshman Armando Macias (San Antonio).

“I’ve improved in my movement off the ball,” says Macias, who now leads the Rattlers in scoring, “and make the right runs.”

Macias led the day with seven shots and two shots on goal. The 36th minute marked Macias’ second career goal after his quick reaction off his shot was blocked. The freshman then headed in the rebound to keep the Rattlers in it, down just 2-1.

But as the winds picked up in the second half, the goals stopped, keeping it a deadlocked 2-1 ballgame. McMurry had three of their five yellow cards for the day issued in the second half and several officiated clock stoppages and errant pushes and shoves represented a tight game between two teams who both wanted the ‘W’.

McMurry ultimately won the battle but the Rattlers won on looks, outshooting the War Hawks 20-4, including Macias’ team-high seven shots. Omar Sanchez (So., San Antonio) equaled Macias’ shots on goal with two, followed by Josh Stevens (Jr., San Antonio), Andrew Carrasco (Sr., Corpus Christi, Texas) and Zach Strater (So., Carrollton, Texas) all recording one on the day.

The loss to McMurry marked the second-to-last home game for the Rattlers, who according to Macias, still have some unfinished business.

“We have to win at home,” says Macias, “it’s our home, we have to protect it. [Saturday’s] our last one here and we gotta get at least one.”

The Rattlers will bid their last chance for a home victory Saturday against the University of Texas-Permian Basin at Northside ISD Soccer Field at 2:30 p.m.

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