SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA soccer team (6-5-1, 1-3 AAC) went shot for shot with Rice (9-3-1, 3-1-0 AAC) at Park West in Sunday’s Salute to First Responders, but the Owls were able to net the game-winner early in the second half, holding on for the 1-0 result.
An offsides call stopped UTSA from getting on the board early off an Olivia Alvarez chip-in and the Owls defenders kept the Roadrunners from getting more than a pair of clean attempts on the net in the first half, despite UTSA’s 6-2 shooting advantage at the break.
The shooting barrage picked up for both teams in the second half and goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler registered four quick saves in the opening nine minutes of the second half. However, the fifth time around, AAC co-leading scorer Leah Chancey netted the game-winning attempt in the 57th minute off Camille Quarterman’s assist.
Though the Roadrunners battled down the line, including a Sasjah Dade header that went high with 40 seconds to go, the Owls held on for the 1-0 result.
After logging six saves against No. 17 Memphis, Kessler finished with five stops against the Owls on Sunday, also placing three shots on goal from midfield free kicks. Tyler Coker tied Kessler for the most Roadrunner shots, while Michelle Polo notched a pair of her own.
Goals
RICE: Leah Chancey (57’)
UTSA: None
Quoting Coach Derek Pittman
“Credit to Rice for playing with a lot of confidence right now and playing very effectively at what they do, and they have a key player that is scoring goals. For me, I was proud of our players for their attitude and their effort from the opening whistle and how they carried out the gameplan. After we adjusted in the second half, we were creating better chances and got back on top of the game. But at the end of the day, we’re not putting our chances in right now. I know our players will pick themselves back up, we’ll get back to training and roll our sleeves up to get ready for a very difficult test at North Texas on Thursday.”
UP NEXT: The Roadrunners will round out a three-straight trio of the league’s top teams of the moment, facing another big in-state conference matchup with a road trip to North Texas on Thursday, Oct. 3. Despite the 3-0 loss Sunday at East Carolina, the Mean Green remain atop the conference standings with nine conference points and a 3-1 AAC record.
- UTSA -