? Pre-match notes (.pdf)
UTSA at Nicholls State
Friday, Oct. 5 ? 4 p.m.
Nicholls Soccer Field (500)
UTSA at Southeastern Louisiana
Sunday, Oct. 7 ? 1 p.m.
Southeastern Soccer Complex (1,000)
SAN ANTONIO - The UTSA soccer team is coming off a 3-1 win at Houston, which snapped its five-match losing streak. The Roadrunners look to continue their winning ways this weekend when they open Southland Conference play in Louisiana at Nicholls State on Oct. 5 and at Southeastern Louisiana two days later.
Series meeting: The Roadrunners lead the all-time series, 1-0, against the Lady Colonels. UTSA won the first meeting between the two clubs with a 6-0 win in Thibodaux, La, a year ago. Meanwhile, the Lady Lions hold a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series meeting. SLU handed UTSA a 1-0 lose in San Antonio last season.
Runners on the Web: Fans can follow the Roadrunners home matches on the web this season through live stats (www.goUTSA.com).
Scouting Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana: Nicholls State is 1-9-1 on the year and were handed a 4-1 defeat at Centenary College on Oct. 1. The Lady Colonels have lost seven straight matches and have been outscored 28-6 during that stretch. Nicholls’ lone win came against Southern on Sept. 2.
Southeastern Louisiana is 5-2-2 on the season. The Lady Loins were dealt a 1-0 lose by Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Sept. 30. Over the last four matches, SLU is 1-1-2 and have allowed only three goals. Dana Mayer tops the team with five goals, while Kristin McDonald ranks second on the squad with four winners.
Hamm earns first career SLC honor: Sophomore Halee Hamm was named Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week, on Tuesday. The Midland native tallied one assist and helped the Roadrunners defense hold the Cougars to one just goal on 18 shots.
Runners in the SLC: UTSA ranks in the top five in six offensive categories this season. The Roadrunners are fifth in shots (116), points (41), goals (15), goals per game (1.67), assists (11) and assists per game (1.22).
Sophomore Chelsea Zimmerman is tied for first in the conference with four assists and is second in assists per game (0.44), while Ezinne Okpo is tied for sixth with four goals.
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. This month, the Roadrunners will be on the road in five of their seven matches.
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 136-81-16 record in 11 plus years as head coach.
What’s next: The Roadrunners return to San Antonio for a two-match home stand against SLC foes Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 12 and Sam Houston State on Oct. 14.
