SAN ANTONIO – Coming off a rout of Tulsa in Stillwater, Okla., on Sunday, UTSA soccer will open its home schedule on Thursday at 7 p.m. vs. California Baptist at Park West Athletics Complex. The game will be streamed live on CUSA TV.
UTSA (1-1) will face off with California Baptist (0-1) in the first of a two-game homestand, also playing host to Grand Canyon on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Roadrunners are fresh off a thrilling 3-0 win over Tulsa in Stillwater, Okla., on Sunday in the finale of the Cowgirl Invitational, hosted by No. 16 Oklahoma State. UTSA opened its season last Thursday with a hard-fought loss at OSU.
In the win on Sunday, UTSA got goals from Kendall Kloza, Ellis Patterson and Jordyn Hyland, with Sarina Russ and Anna Sutter chipping in on assists. UTSA got a clean sheet from Jil Schneider in the win on Sunday, the fourth of her career. Kloza, Patterson and Deja Sandoval each earned All-Tournament Team honors.
The Roadrunners return a bevy of talent from its 2020-21 spring season, which was limited to just 11 matches. UTSA returns 17 of 21 letterwinners and all 15 players who earned starts a year ago. Captains in 2021 are Isa Hernandez and Ellis Patterson, with the pair combining for 84 matches played in their careers.
Patterson, a native of Austin, Texas, ranks fifth in UTSA history in points (47), fourth in goals (17) and fourth in assists (13), also checking in sixth in game-winning goals.
In addition to the scoring punch of Patterson, senior Lexi Bolton helps lead the offensive attack. Bolton ranks ninth in UTSA history with 26 career points and fourth in shots attempted (130).
Schneider, a junior keeper out of Switzerland, has a 1.00 goals-against average through two games in 2021 and a 1.35 goals-against average through her three-year career. She owns four shutouts in her career, including two in 2020-21.
California Baptist (0-1) is coming off a season-opening loss at UC Riverside on Saturday. The Lancers are coming off a 10-4-3 record, including an 8-4-2 mark in league play and a 6-1-0 record at home. Rola Badawaiya and Amy Aquino each netted seven goals a year ago for the Lancers and Aquino fired a shot in the season opener. Romy Salvador had a sparkling 0.85 goals-against average last year and saved five shots in the season lid-lifter.
This will mark the first meeting between UTSA and California Baptist.
- UTSA -
