New faces embracing big roles for Jaguars

The UHV men's soccer team knew it would have a chance to be really good this year.

A strong mix of transfers and freshmen in the 2024 recruiting class gave head coach Adrian Rigby confidence in the team's potential and now they're starting to exceed expectations.

After last Saturday's 6-0 win over Texas A&M-Texarkana, the Jaguars (4-1-2, 2-1-1 RRAC) have had 10 different players find the back of the net with four of them being new players in the squad, including team-leading goal scorer Dario Elsen (5).

"I think it speaks volumes to the recruiting that was done this year," Rigby said. "We were able to bring in some good key players who could contribute to what we're doing. The other thing is guys are doing a real good job of getting on the same page. The captains have done really well getting everybody in-tune with what we're doing at UHV."

Sophomore Matt Sturgeon and freshman Rhuaraidh Menzies, better known as Rudy, each notched their first career goals in Saturday's win. Both did so from their center back positions and became the ninth and 10^th different Jaguars to score this season.

With both center backs finding the back of the net, UHV feels its depth is its biggest asset as it prepares for a Red River Athletic Conference tilt against Huston-Tillotson (1-3-2, 0-3-1) at Onion Creek Soccer Complex in Austin.

"We're just as happy to be there for each other's success as our own," said junior Baillie O'Reilly, who's scored three goals with a team-high four assists this season. "(Last week) proved that. Everyone wants to be here, everyone wants to play and win. We've just got to keep doing that the rest of the season."

The 6-foot-2 Menzies has also been integral to a stout defense for the Jaguars this season.

He and Sturgeon have anchored a back line which ranks 11^th nationally in fewest goals allowed (6) and leads the conference in goals allowed average (0.86).

Menzies credits that success to his teammates helping him adjust to a new style of play in the US compared to back home in Scotland.

"I've had tough times, especially in the game last Thursday (against LSU Shreveport)," Menzies said. "But hearing (Tyler Kaeppeli) and (Adam Thompson) encouraging me to get the bad times out of my head, it's been a great help. It's really improved me as a player and now I'm playing more confident due to them helping me out."

The Jaguars hold an 11-2-2 edge in the all-time series with the Rams following a 4-0 win at home last year.