2024 Red River Athletic Conference men's soccer standings

        METAIRIE, La. — Julio Gruba scored two goals Thursday to help Xavier University of Louisiana earn a 3-2 Red River Athletic Conference men's soccer victory against Our Lady of the Lake.
        The Gold Rush (7-3-1 overall, 6-2 RRAC) have the Red River's longest active win streak, four games. XULA is in fourth place out of 14 RRAC teams and trails LSU-Shreveport (8-0-1), LSU-Alexandria (6-0-2) and Louisiana Christian (6-1-1). A half-game behind the Gold Rush is Texas A&M-San Antonio (5-2), the next XULA opponent.
        XULA led 2-0 at halftime for the fourth consecutive game and did not allow a first-half goal for the seventh consecutive time. Gruba scored in the 10th minute — Leonardo Menzen assisted — and Artur Rubim scored in the 42nd. Rubim's goal was his third in two games.
        Andres Rocha's penalty kick for the Saints in the 51st minute cut XULA's lead to 2-1, but Gruba answered 80 seconds later with his goal that Menzen and Gustavo Oliveira assisted on.
        The Saints' Nicolas Murgas scored in the 77th minute to make it a one-goal margin again, but OLLU managed only two shots thereafter, both on goal and saved by goalkeeper Breno Zanolla.
        It was the second time the Gold Rush won despite being outscored in the second half. Before Thursday, XULA was 1-4 in such situations during its two varsity seasons.
        OLLU (3-9-1, 2-5-1) lost its second straight.
        XULA is 11-1 at home in two seasons, 5-0 in 2024. The current home win streak of seven began Oct. 22, 2023. XULA is 9-0 all-time at all venues when leading by two-or-more goals at halftime.
        The Gold Rush will conclude a four-game home stand with a 12:30 p.m. Saturday game against TAMUSA at a first-time site, Pan American Stadium in New Orleans City Park. Admission is free to all XULA soccer home games. No rain is expected in New Orleans through Oct. 24.