By RGVFútbol/Staff

BROWNSVILLE, 31 Oct. - UTB couldn’t protect the most dangerous lead in soccer and Our Lady of the Lake University came from behind to defeat the Brownsville squad 3-2 on Oct. 27 at Scorpion Field to earn an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament.

"For the first 45 minutes the boys were fantastic, we bossed all areas of the game," said UTB head coach Dan Balaguero. "We knew at the interval that the game was not close to being over."

"At 2-2 we seemed to be in control and looked like we would get the winner and then we got caught late again on a defensive mistake," added Balaguero. "Let's give OLLU credit, they showed a lot of heart to stay in the game and then find a way to win. I wish them look at the national tournament."

With the loss, UTB dropped to 8-3, but qualified to the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament. UTB will face Northwood University on Nov. 3 at Scorpion Field at 1 p.m. in the first round of the tournament.

Ricardo Diegues scored in the 15th and 29th minutes to give UTB a 2-0 lead over OLLU before halftime.

OLLU’s Jorge Cantú began the Saints’ comeback with a 56th minute tally from inside the box to cut the home side’s lead to 2-1.

Robert Alexe equalized the match 2-2 when he got a shot past UTB goalkeeper Ben Pérez in a one-on-one situation.

The Saints scored the game-winning goal when Alex González put the ball into the back of the net with 15 seconds left in the game to lift OLLU to a 3-2 victory over UTB.