HOUSTON – The UTSA soccer team returns to the Lone Star State to face Houston on Sunday afternoon at Carl Lewis International Complex. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ at 2 p.m. (CT).
The Roadrunners hold a 6-2-3 overall record (1-1-2 in C-USA play) after a 1-1 draw with FIU on Sept. 25. UTSA has collected five points towards Conference USA standings, sitting in fifth place. The Roadrunners will take a break from conference action to play the American Athletic Conference's Houston Cougars. Houston is set to make the move to the Big 12 next season, when UTSA joins The American.
UTSA and FIU played to a 1-1 draw last week, collecting a point towards their conference standings. Alissa Stewart gave the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute, before the Panthers scored the equalizer in the 56th minute. UTSA outshot FIU by 15 shots to 11 shots, being led by Marlee Fray and Lexi Bolton who each had three shots.
LEADING THE ROADRUNNERS
The Roadrunners are ranked No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches' South Region rankings, announced the organization on Tuesday. Nationally, UTSA ranks in the top-30 in two different categories, including 24th in assists per game (2.36) and 20th in total assists (26).
The team is second in the Conference USA with 182 shots, 72 points, 23 goals and 26 assists. The Roadrunners are tied with Western Kentucky for the least goals allowed (eight) in the conference through their first 11 matches. As a team, the Roadrunners have outshot their opponents by 182 shots to 78 shots through the season so far.
Singh leads the team with 25 shots (eight on goal) and eleven points (three goals and five assists), starting in all 10 matches. In the nation, Singh has the 57th-most assists per game (0.45) and 38th-most total assists. Preseason Conference Team selection Anna Sutter trails her with nine points, consisting of three goals and three assists.
Sasjah Dade was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 30. Although she is a defender by trade, Dade has contributed greatly on offense as she has seven points consisting of three goals and one assist. She is 45th in the nation and second in the conference with two game-winning goals. Defensively, she has an impressive 77 percent of defensive challenges won and 83 percent successful tackles.
The defensive line of Dade, Deja Sandoval, Kloza and Sabrina Hillyer have played integral roles in the Roadrunners only allowing a conference-best eight goals and recording four shutouts through the first 11 matches, accounting for 3,530 minutes combined.
SERIES HISTORY
In the all-time series, UTSA holds a 3-4-1 record against the Houston Cougars. The teams last played each other on Jan. 24, 2021 (2020 season), when the Roadrunners and Cougars battled to a scoreless 0-0 draw after 110 minutes played. Abby Kassal led the team with two shots on goal, while Jil Schneider notched two saves and played the entire match.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Houston is coming off a 2-2 draw with Memphis on Thursday, Sept. 29, to bring their overall record to 4-4-2 (1-1-1 in American Athletic Conference play). Houston was chosen to finish fifth in the American Athletic Conference, receiving one first-place vote.
Caitlyn Matthews leads the Cougars with 18 shots (nine on goal) and six points consisting of two goals and two assists. Hailey Woodward has played all 900 minutes through Houston's first 10 matches, recording 40 saves and allowing 17 goals. Defender Emma Clarke was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team as well as the Mac Hermann Trophy Watch List.
UP NEXT: The Roadrunners return to conference action, heading to Ruston, La., to face Louisiana Tech on Oct. 6. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT) at Robert Mack Caruthers Field.
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