Ruiz-Camarena Scores Twice but Late Goal Beats Scots

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (09/02/2024) — The Monmouth College men's soccer team lost a heartbreaker on Sunday in their season opener as Buena Vista scored with three seconds left to win 3-2.

Neither team scored for the first 15 minutes but the Scots broke through in the 16th minute. Branyon Heard (St. Louis, Missouri) sent a perfect through ball to the right side and Kristofer Ruiz-Camarena (El Paso, Texas) did the rest. One on one with the keeper, Monmouth's leading scorer from last year buried the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

The Beavers tied the game on a free kick in the 26th minute and the game went to half at 1-1 as the Scots had a penalty kick saved in the 39th minute.

Just over four minutes into the second half the Scots earned another penalty kick. Ruiz-Camarena had his attempt saved, but he slotted home the rebound for his second goal of the game and a 2-1 Monmouth lead.

The game stayed 2-1 for more than a half hour. The Beavers tied the game in the 82nd minute with another free kick. The Scots were called for a foul just outside the box with four seconds left. The free kick by the Beavers hit the Monmouth wall and deflected into the goal for a 3-2 win.

Luis Villa (El Paso, Texas) and Alejandro Zamarripa (El Paso, Texas) split time in goal. Villa made three saves in the first half and Zamarripa made three saves in the second half.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Eight freshmen made their collegiate debuts: Isai Barajas (El Paso, Texas), Justin Barrett (Las Vegas, Nevada) Koby Bodner (Lincoln, NE), Tanner Faivre (Earlville, Illinois), James Gustafson (Chicago, Illinois), Portillo, Jason Ramirez (El Paso, Texas) and Treyton Yi (Streamwood, Illinois) ... Parker Davis (Burlington, Iowa), a transfer, made his Monmouth debut ... Yi, Bodner and Davis started ... Yi and Ramon Aguilar (St. Louis, Missouri) played all 90 minutes ... Ruiz-Camarena had three shots on goal Owen Murray (Cedar City, Utah) had one and Portillo had one ... Ruiz-Camarena also scored two goals at Upper Iowa last season ... The only other meeting between these teams was a draw in 2021 ... Shots on target were 9-5 in favor of the hosts ... Corner kicks were 7-3 in favor of MonmouthThe Scots play Tuesday at Greenville with a 7 p.m. kickoff ... The Monmouth home opener is Thursday, Sept. 12 against UW-Stevens Point.