TEXARKANA, Texas - The Red River Athletic Conference men's soccer final between XULA and LSU-Shreveport came down to the wire, then went well past it. 

In short, the ingredients were present for history to be made in the most dramatic manner possible, and the Gold Rush delivered to the tune of a heart-stopping, 1-0 win over LSU-Shreveport and the team's first RRAC men's soccer tournament crown. 

"Unbelievable feeling — my first time as a head coach, and all credit goes to the players who worked so hard for it," head coach Lucas Cordeiro said. 

The match remained tied until the 109:46 minute mark - that's 12 seconds to play in the second overtime - when junior forward Artur Rubim finished off an expert pass from sophomore midfielder Antonio Merola. 

To make the moment even more magical, bordering on unbelievable, Rubim was nursing a nagging injury that had prevented him from participating in the match until he entered late in the contest and scored what is currently the most consequential goal in program history.

"Artur actually pulled his hamstring and was injured — he wasn't even supposed to play," Coreiro said. "But he made the effort to be here and support the team. Something inside me told me to put him in for the last few minutes, and he stepped up and scored the golden goal with just 14 seconds left in double overtime."

When the ball found the back of the net, the Gold Rush (13-4-2) found themselves the creators of history by virtue of the "golden goal" rule. The win also marked a measure of revenge for XULA, which had fallen 2-0 to the Pilots (13-2-5) in the regular season. 

Defensively, XULA played a strong match, holding LSUS to 14 shots, eight of which were on goal. Keeper Breno Zanolla (10-2-1) was good for four saves. 

"Our back line and goalkeeper have been massive for us all season, but it's really been a full team effort," Cordeiro said. "The guys up top, the midfielders, everyone puts in the work defensively. That collective effort is what keeps us solid. And when we've needed him most, Breno — our captain — has stepped up with some incredible saves."

UPWARD TRAJECTORY

The Gold Rush have been strong in their three years of existence. In 2023, XULA men's soccer's inaugural season, the team went 11-4-2 and made an appearance in the RRAC semifinals. 

Last year, Xavier posted a 14-5-1 record, made it to the RRAC tournament final, and earned their first berth in the NAIA national tournament. 

"I think the biggest key has been the passion we put into the program and how much we genuinely care about each player — not just as athletes, but as people," Cordeiro said. That connection builds trust and makes everyone want to give their best for the team. And honestly, the support we get from the entire athletic department has been incredible. It's a team effort on every level."

Proof positive of the culture that Cordeiro and his players are building at XULA can be found in the fact that numerous key players have missed time throughout the season. However, no lineup change, alteration of playing time, or other hurdle has proven the better of the Gold Rush. 

"We've dealt with a lot of injuries this season and lost some important players, but that really shows the strength of our group," Cordeiro said. "Everyone has stepped up and found a way to contribute. It speaks volumes about their character and how much they believe in what we're doing. Now we'll keep working and make sure we're ready to compete at nationals."

POSTSEASON PLANS

The Gold Rush will next participate in their second consecutive NAIA national tournament, although they will have to wait until Friday to learn their first-round opponent and match location. 

A complete guide to the NAIA men's national tournament is available here.