The Blinn College men's and women's soccer teams each lost by identical 1-0 scores to Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant.

For the Blinn women's soccer team, Saturday's game was its season opener. For the men's team, it was its first road contest. Head coach Michael McBride saw positives from both of his teams.

"The women's game was very close. The first game (of the season) is always tough, but I was pleased with some of the things we did," McBride said. "We've got things to work on, but there's progress. I'm not too downhearted. I think we've got a better idea where we are."

The Blinn men's team, now 2-1-1 on the season, controlled its game against Northeast Texas but couldn't put the ball into the net, McBride said. The goal surrendered was the first offensive goal they have allowed so far this season.

"It was a dominant performance even though we lost," he said. "It was actually a pretty good performance but not a good result. They did what we asked them to do. We certainly learned plenty about ourselves and what we need to do."

Blinn will host Tyler Junior College for two games Wednesday, the conference openers for both teams. The women's game is scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. on Rankin Field in Brenham's Hohlt Park. That will be followed by the men's game at 7 p.m.

Tyler Junior College is the defending women's champion in National Junior College Athletic Association Division I and was ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll. Tyler's men's team was ranked No. 16.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.