Men’s Soccer Hits Ground Running with First Practice of the Season

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men’s soccer team got their 2024 season started with their first practice of the season on Tuesday at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.

The Vaqueros, who had a really good spring season, wanted to hit the ground running this fall and were excited to get everyone on the pitch for the first time.

“It was exciting to just get the group out there,” UTRGV Head Coach Bryheem Hancock said. “It’s a new group. A lot of returning players. We had a really good spring and had a lot of growth as a group and individually. Now, we can bring those new guys into the fold and seeing how much they were welcomed by the guys that are returning is a really good sign to day one.

The first day of practice was a little bit of conditioning and a little time to start building those connections on the pitch. There will be a big focus over the next couple of weeks on team chemistry.

Team chemistry will be a big factor into the success of the Vaqueros in 2024. If there is a bond amongst the team, then it’s easier to get everyone on the same page and pulling in the same direction.

“I think for us it’s about being on the same page tactically,” Hancock said. “When we defend as a group, attacking, obviously, restarts are another big part of the game, and just bonding. Getting to know each other more than just a soccer player and student is getting to know them personally. The first meeting I had with the group, you can tell that the guys are starting to work on that, which is a great sign.”

The Vaqueros will have plenty of opportunities to build that team chemistry as they have three exhibition matches prior to the start of the regular season on Aug. 25.

The Vaqueros will host the Idea Toros FA on Aug. 9, then play Coastal Bend College in Brownsville on Aug. 13 before playing Texas A&M International on Aug. 22.

Those three exhibitions will also allow the Vaqueros to get into their mindset for the season, which is just win.

“We have a match in a few days, our first exhibition,” Hancock said. “For us it’s just preparing with a mindset to win. Whatever that looks like. We have to make sure we get three points. That’s the mentality we are trying to set on top of building the group and forming that family bond.”

The Vaqueros welcome back 16 from last year’s squad with 11 new faces. With so many returning from last year’s team, the Vaqueros will have an abundance of experience and out of that experience will bring leaders for the squad.

Leadership is one of the things Coach Hancock likes about this year’s team and he also likes the versatility that they all bring.

“The diversity of the group,” Hancock said. “A lot of guys can play in different positions. There is a lot of experience between the guys that have been here now and guys that we have brought in. Leadership. Usually, you try to find one or two guys and I think we have a handful of guys that can help lead the group. The more guys you have that are willing to step up and help the next guy and play for the next guy makes your chances of winning that much better.”

The Vaqueros are excited about the new season, because that brings new possibilities and a new slate.

The Vaqueros are off and running and are excited about what this year can bring.

“I am really excited,” Hancock said. “I am looking forward to the season.”