DENVER – West Texas A&M men's soccer opened its 2024 campaign with a 2-2 draw against the Regis Rangers on Friday night in Denver. The Buffs took a 2-0 lead into halftime, but the Rangers tied the game in the second half.
 
Off the opening kickoff, Regis controlled the ball and pace. Less than a minute into the contest, Gabriel Nevarez pressured the Rangers' back line and forced a turnover. Nevarez placed a shot on frame, but Regis goalkeeper Greg Squire made his first save of the night. WT continued to put pressure on the Rangers throughout the first half. In the 21^st minute, the pressure paid off as Sol Bercu played a ball over the top of the defense to Nevarez. With Squire off his line, Nevarez beat the keeper to the ball and finished the goal with a header.
 
Regis attempted to level the score after the Buffs' goal when Jacobo Betancourt-Tovar took a shot from outside the box. The Rangers' chance went wide left, allowing WT to control possession once again. Holding a one-goal advantage, the Buffs cashed in on a counterattack in the 39^th minute as Matteo Landais scored his first goal of the season. After WT advanced past midfield, Landais took on the Regis defense before slipping an 18-yard shot under the arm of Squire. Despite two more shots from Landais, the Buffs carried the 2-0 lead into halftime.
 
In the second half, the Rangers came out of the break with a sense of urgency, registering three shots in the first five minutes. WT answered with a shot of its own but watched Zakaria Daaou's attempt go wide left. Regis' attack broke through in the 60^th minute as the Rangers scored their first goal of the evening. After a long ball went to the end line, Matthew Bared sent a crossing pass to the middle of the box for Blaise Richard. Richard flicked the ball to the back post, beating the Buffs' back line.
 
Regis kept the momentum after the goal, quickly testing WT goalkeeper Luke Southerington. After a save from Southerington, the Rangers tied the game in the 66^th minute on a streak down the left side. As Betancourt-Tovar entered the box, the sophomore midfielder centered the ball where Elias Taubo slid in for the finish. With the game tied, the Buffs and Rangers went back and forth, looking for scoring opportunities. Before either team could find a go-ahead goal, time expired on the contest.
 
The Buffs stay in Denver where a Sunday match against MSU Denver at 1 p.m. closes out WT's opening road trip.