YUMA, Ariz. – Arizona Western College Men's Soccer sophomore Shuntaro Endo has signed to continue his career at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley next season after helping the Matadors to a pair of NJCAA DI Soccer Championship appearances.

Endo appeared in 38 career games in his two seasons at Arizona Western and made 31 starts, scoring a pair of goals and recording an assist. In his two years at Arizona Western, End was part of a backline that tallied 19 shutouts, forming one of the top defenses in the nation in both seasons.

This past fall, Endo played in 20 games, making 19 starts, scoring two goals, and recording an assist. The defender from Japan scored his first career goal in the season opener, helping the Matadors to a 9-0 win over Trinidad State on August 17. Endo added his first career assist in the Matadors' 3-0 win over Scottsdale on October 7 and scored his first NJCAA DI Men's Soccer Championship goal on the final day of pool play in a 3-0 win over LSU-Eunice.

For his efforts, Endo was named Second Team All-ACCAC and a First Team All-Region selection, earning postseason recognition for the second consecutive year.

As a freshman, Endo played in 18 games and made 12 starts, was named First Team All-ACCAC and First Team All-Region. Endo helped lead the Matadors to the NJCAA DI Men's Soccer Championship Final and a National Runner-Up finish.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is an NCAA DI institution located in Edinburg, Texas. The Vaqueros compete in the Western Athletic Conference and reached the semifinals of the WAC Tournament in 2018.