MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Newcomer Iman Ouedraogo scored in both halves Thursday, and Xavier University of Louisiana never trailed in a season-opening 2-1 men's soccer victory against St. Thomas University.
        It was the first game as head coach for XULA's Lucas Cordeiro, a Gold Rush assistant the past two seasons.
        "The boys fought hard for 90 minutes," Cordeiro said. "They gave a great effort to win on the road against a good St. Thomas team."
        The Bobcats received votes in the NAIA preseason coaches poll, which was announced Wednesday. XULA became the first non-conference opponent in five seasons to win at St. Thomas. During the past four seasons, St. Thomas was 26-1-6 against all home opponents.
        XULA, shut out in its 2023 and 2024 openers, led 1-0 in the 10th minute when Ouedraogo scored with an assist from Ignacio Solorza. St. Thomas tied the score in the 27th minute on Gabriel Lima's penalty kick, then Ouedraogo produced the winner in the 53rd minute with an assist from Diego Pacheco.
        Ouedraogo is a junior forward from Paris, France, and a transfer from two-year Arizona Western, where in 2024 he led the Matadors with nine goals during a 15-1-3 season.
        XULA had advantages of 15-8 in shots and 7-3 in shots on goal. Breno Zanolla made two saves and improved his XULA career record in goal to 24-8-3.
        Cordeiro's feelings about his head-coaching debut? "It was a lot like my first game as a college player," he said. "I was really nervous and excited."
        This was XULA's first regular-season competition of the academic year. The fall semester began Monday. XULA in 2025 is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
        The Gold Rush will stay on the road and visit Florida Memorial at 9 a.m. EDT Saturday. Start time was pushed up 10 hours because of a scheduling conflict, and the game was moved to Orange Bowl Field, 20901 NE 16th Ave., in Miami. (That's not the Miami Orange Bowl, the longtime NFL and college venue which was demolished in 2008.)
        The Gold Rush home opener will kick off at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 against Mobile at Lafreniere Park in suburban Metairie, La.