SAN ANTONIO — Kaja Skare’s winner in the 64th minute capped a season-high four-goal effort from UTSA as the Roadrunners rallied past visiting McNeese State, 4-3, on Friday night at Park West Athletics Complex.
Charlotte Husoe and Kauwela Neal each scored a goal and added an assist for the Roadrunners, who improved to 3-1 for the first time since 2010. The four goals for UTSA, which came from four different players, were its highest scoring total since a 7-0 win over Prairie View A&M on Sept. 16, 2011.
Meanwhile, the Roadrunners handed the Cowgirls (1-4) their fourth consecutive defeat despite eight saves from goalie Annie Bravenec.
UTSA struck first in the 20th minute when Helotes native Anissa Munson notched her second goal of the season. Husoe set up the score with a perfect corner kick that her classmate headed home for the early advantage.
However, the Cowgirls evened the score in the 27th minute when Savannah LaRicci stole the ball from UTSA goalie Katherine Tesno and found the back of the net.
The goal was the first allowed by UTSA at home since Sept. 8, 2013, when Samford registered a pair of goals. In all, the winner snapped a nearly 657-minute scoreless streak at Park West Athletics Complex for Roadrunners opponents.
Nearly six minutes later, Neal popped a shot from the left wing that floated over Bravenec’s head and into the back of the net to reclaim the lead for the Roadrunners, 2-1, which is where the score stood at halftime.
After the intermission the Cowgirls came out firing and took a 3-2 lead following goals from Nickie Schaaf and Gabi D’Alesandro less than 11 minutes into the second half.
Husoe worked quickly to erase the deficit and found herself in the right place at the right time to come up with the equalizer. After Bravenec dove to stop Anka Grotle’s free kick from just outside the penalty box in the 60th minute, Husoe charged the net and put home the loose ball to knot the score, 3-3.
Just four minutes later, Neal set up Skare for the game-winning goal.
The senior collected a wide pass and sent a cross into the box that the freshman headed in for her first collegiate goal. Skare then helped the UTSA defense, which was forced to go the final 25 minutes with just 10 players, hold off McNeese State for the victory.
The Roadrunners will be back in action on at 7 p.m. on Sunday when they travel north to face SMU (1-4).