Men's Soccer Defeats UA Rich Mountain 2-0 to Kick Off 2025 Season
August 23, 2025
MENA, Ark. - UA Cossatot men's soccer opened their season against UA Rich Mountain, with a pair of Kerry Najera goals giving the Colts a 2-0 victory at Aubrey J Tapley Park in Mena, Arkansas, as UAC clinches its first victory over UARM in program history.
The Colts struck first midway through the first half, with freshman midfielder Gustavo Quiroz playing a beautiful through ball to the path of Najera who lobbed a left-footed shot past the Rich Mountain goalkeeper to put the Colts in front. Just a few minutes after halftime, Najera scored again as he dispossessed a Bucks player before dribbling into the box and slotting a shot into the goal with his right foot, doubling the Colts lead.
This was the sixth multi-goal match in 14 career appearances, tallying four such matches in his freshman regular season campaign (vs St. Charles C.C, Arlington Baptist, Dallas College Mountain View (hat-trick) and Ranger College) as well as scoring two goals in a 2-1 exhibition win against NAIA Texas A&M Texarkana. Overall Najera's career regular season tally sits at 14 goals in 13 matches.
The Colts fought off the Bucks for the remainder of the game, with their backline playing very well, while freshman goalkeeper Alexander Hautz making several big saves.
The Colts are back in action Wednesday as they travel to Raymond, Mississippi to take on Hinds Community College. Kickoff at Tom Shepherd field is set for 5 p.m.
