? Pre-match notes (.pdf)
? Live stats
UTSA at Houston
Friday, Sept. 28 ? 7 p.m.
John O'Quinn Field
SAN ANTONIO - The UTSA soccer team closes out its non-conference schedule on the road at Houston on Friday at John O’Quinn Field. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Series Meeting: The Cougars lead the all-time series, 1-0, against the Roadrunners. Last season, Houston collected a 1-0 win in double overtime against UTSA in San Antonio.
Scouting Houston: Houston is 4-2-1 on the season and is coming off a 3-1 victory against Houston Baptist this past Tuesday night at John O’Quinn Field. The win snapped a two-match losing streak for the Cougars. UH is 3-0-1 at home and have outscored opponents 5-1. Islara Rodriguez and Lauri Byrne each have a pair of goals to lead the team. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Shelby Scott has played all seven matches for Houston and collected 52 saves, while allowing 10 goals on the season.
Runners on the Web: Fans can follow the Roadrunners home matches on the web this season through live stats (www.goUTSA.com). Houston will provide live stats and live video for Friday’s match (www.uhcougars.com).
Runners drop a pair of matches over the weekend: UTSA fell to Delaware, 2-0, last Friday night and to Iona, 5-1 on Sunday at the UTSA Recreational Sports Complex.
Hebert makes most of first start: Sophomore Kasi Hebert made her first career start in the net for UTSA at TCU. The Spring native made the most it with a career-high 10 saves against the Horned Frogs on Sept. 11.
Collecting mileage: Head coach Steve Ballard’s squad opened the 2007 season playing its first five of six matches on the road, including a four-match road swing in the span of one week. The Roadrunners have posted a 1-4 mark away from San Antonio.
Morel’s two goals to give UTSA first win: Freshman Kat Morel netted a career-high two goals, as the UTSA soccer team collected its first win of the season with a 7-0 victory at Texas Southern on Sept. 7. The Irving native also collected one assist and totaled a career-best four shots.
Offensive explosion: UTSA matched its career-high with seven goals in a game at Texas Southern on Sept 7. Last year, the Roadrunners accomplished this twice. The first one came against Prairie View A&M on Aug. 30 and then repeated it against Texas Southern on Sept. 10.
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 (first team), while sophomore Veronica Najera collected All-SLC second-team honors.
Head Coach Steve Ballard: Steve Ballard begins his second season as UTSA head soccer coach. During his first year, he guided a young Roadrunners 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 135-81-16 record in 11 plus years as head coach.
What’s next: UTSA opens Southland Conference play on road next weekend. The Roadrunners travel to Louisiana for a pair of matches on Oct. 5 at Nicholls State and then at Southeastern Louisiana two days later.