UTSA to hit road for pair of matches this weekend

SAN ANTONIO — UTSA will trek outside of the Lone Star State this weekend for Southland Conference matches against Central Arkansas and Northwestern State. Kickoff between the Roadrunners and Bears is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday and UTSA will face the Lady Demons at 2 p.m. two days later.

The Birds (4-7-1, 1-2 SLC) have faced stiff competition early in their conference slate. Texas State defeated UTSA, 3-1, last Sunday in San Marcos. Freshman Liv Nyhegn scored her fifth goal of the season to give the Roadrunners an early 1-0 lead, but the Bobcats responded with three unanswered winners.

Nyhegn and sophomore Maria Jose Rojas pace the squad with 12 points (five goals/two assists), while senior Jodi Leroy has accounted for eight (three goals/two assists).

Central Arkansas (5-6-1, 1-2 SLC) is coming off a 6-0 defeat at Stephen F. Austin last Friday. The Bears' Oct. 9 contest at Sam Houston State was halted due to an unplayable field following heavy rain and it will be played at a later date in Huntsville.  Overall, UCA has won just one of its last six matches after starting the season 4-2. Madison Poteet leads the squad with three goals on just four shots, while Kelsey Gochnauer owns a 3-4-1 record with 27 saves in goal.

Northwestern State (7-7, 1-3 SLC) dropped its matches with the Bearkats and Ladyjacks last weekend by scores of 1-0 and 5-0, respectively. Meghan Hunter paces the team and is tied for sixth in the conference with 14 points on five goals and four assists. Through 14 matches, the Lady Demons are allowing an average of 1.43 goals and have been outscored 15-8 in the second half.

UTSA leads the all-time series against Central Arkansas 5-0 and it holds a 5-0-1 edge against Northwestern State. Last season, the Roadrunners defeated the Lady Demons on an overtime goal by Leroy for a 2-1 win on Oct. 8 before blanking the Bears 3-0 two days later.