? Pre-match notes (.pdf)
UTSA vs. Stephen F. Austin
Friday, Oct. 12 ? 7 p.m.
UTSA Recreational Sports Complex (1,000)
UTSA vs. Sam Houston State
Sunday, Oct. 14 ? 7 p.m.
UTSA Recreational Sports Complex (1,000)
SAN ANTONIO ? The UTSA soccer team continues Southland Conference play this weekend against Stephen F. Austin Friday night and Sam Houston State on Sunday.
Series meeting: The Roadrunners lead the all-time series, 1-0, against the Ladyjacks and Lady Bearkats. UTSA won the first meeting 2-1 at SFA last year in Nacogdoches. Then, the Roadrunners handed Sam Houston a 2-1 defeat in Huntsville.
Runners on the Web: Fans can follow the Roadrunners home matches on the web this season through live stats (www.goUTSA.com).
Promotional schedule: Free posters and soccer balls will be given out to first 100 people attending Friday’s match against Stephen F. Austin.
Scouting Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston: The Ladyjacks are coming off a 2-1 win against Sam Houston State on Oct. 5. SFA is 5-3-1 overall and 1-0 in SLC play. In the last five matches, the Ladyjacks are 4-1 and have outscored opponents 18-9. Erika Palmacci leads the team in goals (5) and points (10). Goalkeeper Crystin Pactor has appeared in all nine matches and recorded 40 saves, while allowing 15 goals.
Sam Houston State is 2-6 on the season and are 0-1 in conference action. The Lady Bearkats dropped a 2-1 decision at SFA last Friday night. SHSU’s lone goal came off Monica Madden foot in the second half. Goalie Jenny Pence posted 17 saves, including 13 in the second frame. A trio of Sam Houston State players in Raquel Bueno, Alison Oakland and Luana Miessa each have two goals apiece. Pence has made 84 saves and giving up 17 winners this season.
Dillon’s night out: Freshman Alli Dillon led the Roadrunners to their first league win last Friday night at Nicholls State. The Yorba Linda, Calif., native had career-highs with two goals and two assists in the win. She also tallied a career-best six points.
Najera scoring run: Sophomore Veronica Najera ended her five-match scoreless drought against Iona on Sept. 23. The Waxahachie native has been on scoring run with three goals over the last three matches, including a pair at Nicholls State.
Dillon named Offensive Player of the Week: Freshman Alli Dillon was tabbed Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday. Dillon became the first Roadrunner to garner the weekly award in school history.
Runners in the SLC: UTSA ranks in the top five in six offensive categories this season. This season, the Roadrunners are tied for third in the conference with 17 assists and are fourth in goals (20), points (57), goals per game (1.82) and assists per game (1.55). UTSA’s 148 shots stands fifth the SLC.
Sophomore Chelsea Zimmerman is tied for third in the conference with four assists and is fourth in assists per game (0.36), while Veronica Najera’s five winners ranks fourth in the league and Ezinne Okpo is tied for ninth with four goals.
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.
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 137-82-16 record in 11 plus years as head coach.
What’s next: UTSA begins a three-match road trip at I-35 rival Texas State on Oct. 21 at bobcat Soccer Complex in San Marcos. Match is slated for a 1 p.m., kickoff.
