? Pre-match notes (.pdf)
UTSA vs. McNeese State
Sunday, Nov. 4 ? 1 p.m.
UTSA Recreational Sports Complex (1,000)
SAN ANTONIO - The UTSA soccer team heads into its final match of the regular season in a three-way tie for first place in the Southland Conference standings with McNeese State and Stephen F. Austin. The Roadrunners host the Cowgirls on Sunday (1 p.m.) at the UTSA Recreational Sports Complex.
Series Meeting: The Roadrunners and Cowgirls are tied, 1-1, in the all-time series. McNeese State scored a 1-0 win over UTSA at the 2006 SLC Soccer Tournament on Nov. 3 in San Marcos.
Runners on the Web: Fans can follow the Roadrunners home matches on the web this season through live stats (www.goUTSA.com).
Scouting McNeese State: McNeese State remained the tight race with a 3-0 win at Texas State on Friday in San Marcos. The Cowgirls are 10-4-4 overall and 6-1-1 in the league. McNeese is coming of a pair of wins last weekend. The Cowgirls handed Stephen F. Austin its first conference loss of the season with a 1-0 victory on Friday in Lake Charles, La. McNeese State dealt Sam Houston State a 4-2 loss on Sunday.
Okpo earns academics honors: Sophomore Ezinne Okpo was tabbed 2007 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District second team for district six on Thursday. Okpo registered a 4.00 cumlative gpa last season. The Denton native has helped the Roadrunners post a 7-7-2 overall mark and into a three-way tie for first place in the SLC standings with a 5-1-1 record.
UTSA rolls past UCA and Northwestern State: UTSA extended its unbeaten streak to five matches with a couple of wins last weekend. The Roadrunners picked up a 2-0 victory at Central Arkansas on Friday night. UTSA then posted a 1-0 win at Northwestern State on Sunday.
Back to basics: In their last five matches, the Roadrunners’ defense has return to their roots. UTSA has allowed only one goal, while recording four shutouts. Since opening conference play, the Roadrunners have giving up a total of four goals in their seven matches.
Runners declaw Bobcats: UTSA handed I-35 rival Texas State a 3-1 loss on Oct. 21 in San Marcos. Freshman Joy Jarrell collected her first collegiate goal of the season, while freshman Alli Dillon and sophomore Veronica Najera added one goal apiece. Najera and Dillon also recorded an assist.
McCabe collects first SLC honor: Freshman Allison McCabe was tabbed Southland Conference Goalkeeper of the Week Oct. 16, after posting back-to-back shutouts in her first career starts last weekend. McCabe made her first career start against Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 12 and recorded her first-ever shutout. She repeated her performance in the 3-0 win versus Sam Houston on Oct. 14.
Dillon’s hot play: Freshman Alli Dillon continues her hot streak netting a goal and recording an assist over the weekend. She has scored at least one goal in five of the seven SLC matches. Dillon added a goal and an assist at Texas State on Oct. 21. Meanwhile in the victory against Sam Houston State, she tallied a pair goals and a assist on Oct. 14. Since opening SLC play, Dillon has totaled five goals and four assists. The Yorba Linda, Calif., native collected two goals and two assists in the win at Nicholls State on Oct. 5.
Najera scoring run: Sophomore Veronica Najera ended her five-match scoreless drought against Iona on Sept. 23. Since then, the Waxahachie native has been on scoring run with six goals over the last seven matches, including a pair at Nicholls State on Oct. 5. Najera’s eight winners and 19 points leads the team this season.
Dillon named Offensive Player of the Week: Freshman Alli Dillon was tabbed Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 9. Dillon became the first Roadrunner to garner the weekly award in school history.
Runners in the SLC: UTSA ranks in the top five in five offensive categories this season in the SLC . The Roadrunners stand in fifth with 25 assists and points (83). UTSA is fifth in goals (29) and assists per game (1.56) and fourth in goals per game (1.81). Freshman Alli Dillon and sophomore Veronica Najera are tied for fourth in the league with 16 points apiece, while Najera ranks seventh with 43 shots and is tied for fourth in goals (8). Dillon is tied for eighth with seven winners this season.
Hamm earns first career SLC honor: Sophomore Halee Hamm was named Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 2. 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 141-82-17 record in 11 plus years as head coach.
What’s next: UTSA travels to Natchitoches, La., for the 2007 Southland Conference Tournament on Nov. 8-11 at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex.
