Roadrunners to conclude long home stand this weekend

SAN ANTONIO — The UTSA women's soccer team will look to improve upon the best 11-match start in school history this weekend when it concludes its season-long six-match home stand against Northwestern State (7 p.m/Friday) and Central Arkansas (12 p.m./Sunday).

The Roadrunners (6-5, 1-0 SLC) are one of four unbeaten teams in Southland Conference play after defeating Texas State, 1-0, last Friday in the league lid-lifter. UTSA's offense continues to rank in the nation's top 10 in scoring with its 2.91 goals-per-game average.

The Birds feature a balanced attack in which four players — senior Laurel Dierking, junior Taylor Padia and freshmen Maria Jose Rojas and Laylla da Cruz — lead the squad with four goals apiece. Meanwhile, Rojas' six assists are tied for the circuit lead and her 14 points rank fourth.

Northwestern State (6-7, 1-1 SLC) opened conference action with a 1-1 weekend, falling to Stephen F. Austin before defeating Sam Houston State, 2-1, on Sunday. Pippi Haase’s three goals lead the Lady Demons, who are in search of their first road win of the year. Northwestern State has dropped both of its road matches by a combined 6-0 score.

Central Arkansas (4-5-2, 0-1-1 SLC) opened conference play with a 3-2 setback to Sam Houston State before a 1-all tie with Stephen F. Austin on Sunday. The Bears are led by Brittany Kemper's eight points on three goals and two assists.

UTSA never has lost to either team, owning a combined 8-0-1 record.

The Roadrunners pushed their all-time record against the Lady Demons to 4-0-1 with a 4-2 win in Natchitoches, La., last fall and they improved to a perfect 4-0 all-time against the Bears with a 2-0 win in Conway, Ark.

A pair of wins this weekend would put UTSA one step closer to matching its school-record 4-0 start to Southland play in 2009.