? Pre-match notes (.pdf)
Kick Off: UTSA returns home after a 2-1 loss at SMU to host Baylor in its home opener Tuesday, Sept 4, at the UTSA Recreational Sports Complex at 7 p.m.
Series Meeting: The Bears lead the all-time series, 1-0, against the Roadrunners. Last season, Baylor handed UTSA a 1-0 defeat on Sept. 15 in Waco.
Scouting Baylor: Baylor opened its 2007 campaign with a 2-0 win against Louisiana-Layfayette last week in Waco. The Bears are coming off 6-12-1 overall mark and 3-7 in Big 12 play. BU returnes 21 players, including 10 starters.
SMU edges UTSA 2-1: After a scoreless first half, both teams combined for 3 goals in the second half. The Mustangs jumped on the broad 1-0, when senior Kimber Bailey netted her first goal of the season with 51:10 left in the second frame. Then senior Allison Brill’s first winner on the year gave SMU a 2-0 edge at the 64th minute mark. UTSA cut the deficit 2-1 off sophomore Ezinne Okpo’s first goal on the season with 66:38 remaining in the match. With less than two minutes left in the game, sophomore Veronica Najera had a chance to tie the game, but her shot hit the crossbar and SMU held on for the win.
Preseason honors: UTSA was picked to finish second and third, respectively, in this year’s Southland Conference Preseason SIDs and coaches poll. UTSA also garnered four SLC preseason all-conference honors, led by sophomores Chelsea Zimmerman, Ezinne Okpo and Chea Pajak (All-SLC first team), while sophomore Veronica Najera collected All-SLC second team honors.
2006 recap: In its inaugural season, UTSA ended the year 8-9-2 overall and 5-1-2 in SLC standing, finishing one point behind Southeastern Louisiana for the regular season title. The Roadrunners entered post season play as the No. 2 seed of the 2006 SLC Soccer Tournament. UTSA also picked up all-conference honors with Zimmerman collecting SLC Freshman of the Year and All-SLC first team accolades, while Okpo was tabbed All-SLC second team honors and Najera and sophomore Kari Weiland were selected All-SLC honorable mention.
Head Coach Steve Ballard: Steve Ballard begins his second season as UTSA head soccer coach. During his first year, he guided a young Roadrunner squad that featured 24 freshmen, including nine in the starting lineup, to an 8-9-2 overall record and a second-place finish in the Southland Conference standings with a 5-1-2 mark. Ballard led his team to its first SLC Tournament appearance as the No. 2 seed. In his first season with the Roadrunners, four players earned all-conference honors, highlighted by SLC Freshman of the Year Chelsea Zimmerman. Overall, Ballard has compile a 134-76-15 record in 11 years as head coach.
What’s next: UTSA hits the road for a pair of non-conference matches next weekend at Texas Southern on Friday, Sept. 7 in Houston and at Texas Tech on Sunday, Sept. 9 in Lubbock.
