Patriot Athletics Ignite Season with Fun, Fans and Fierce Competition

By CHASE UPTON/Sports Editor

Patriots Kick Off Season with Tailgating, Giveaways, and more

UT Tyler athletics came alive Thursday evening as fans gathered for tailgating and pregame festivities ahead of the season openers for men’s soccer and volleyball. Games, giveaways and a packed atmosphere outside the Herrington Patriot Center set the tone for the night. The events also served as a preview of the energy UT Tyler plans to bring to its athletic programs this year. First-year athletic director Dr. Sam Ferguson, coordinator of promotions and fan engagement Jordon Baker and student assistant Aiden Maze leading efforts to connect more students with Patriot athletics.

Patriots Soccer Opens Strong

Men’s soccer kicked off the 2025 season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Dallas Baptist University, marking the Patriots’ first season-opening victory since 2022. The first half was a defensive battle with both teams struggling to create opportunities. DBU’s only shot on goal came in the 23rd minute, but UT Tyler goalkeeper Nicolas Becker made a key save to keep the match scoreless.

The second half saw DBU apply early pressure, but the Patriots held firm. The breakthrough came in the 74th minute after a DBU turnover allowed a long ball forward to Jason Verhoogen, who found Henrique Caputo streaking down the field. Caputo slotted the ball past the DBU keeper, giving UT Tyler the lead they would not relinquish, and Caputo his first score as a Patriot.

A transfer from Saint Francis University, Becker stood tall in the closing minutes to secure the shutout in his Patriots debut. Reflecting on the victory, Becker said, “Still room to improve, always room to improve… these in-conference games are always hard fought, but it feels great for me personally to get my first shutout coming in as a transfer.”

The shutout was also the program’s first since November 2024 and the first in a season opener since the Patriots’ last opening win in 2022.

UT Tyler men’s soccer will face No. 17 University of Colorado Colorado Springs at home on Sep. 11, presenting their first test against a nationally ranked opponent

Volleyball Take No.5 Ferris State To The Wire

Patriot volleyball battled No. 5 Ferris State in the opening match of the 2025 Patriot Classic, falling 3-1 (25-23, 28-26, 23-25, 25-22). The Patriots stayed with the Bulldogs throughout, trading points back and forth and mounting late rallies that kept every set neck and neck.

Autumn Perry and Kailey Manes each recorded double-digit kills, while Saige Rivera distributed 28 assists and Anna Arceneaux added 20 digs in the freshman’s first collegiate match. Despite the loss, the Patriots scratched and clawed against a top-ranked opponent and will continue the Patriot Classic through Sep. 6.

What’s to Come for Patriot Athletics

Thursday’s events showcased the new energy and enthusiasm surrounding UT Tyler athletics, from lively pregame festivities to hard-fought action on the court and field, the Patriots gave fans plenty to cheer about and a glimpse of the exciting season ahead.