CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- Kendall Kloza netted her second goal of the year and Jil Schneider worked a shutout, leading UTSA soccer to a 1-0 win at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - the fourth straight win for the Roadrunners - on Wednesday night at the Jack Dugan Soccer Stadium.
The win moves the start of the 2021 season into the record books for UTSA as it stands alone as the best start in the program's history.
UTSA (4-1-0) posted a 1-0 victory over the Islanders as the Roadrunners now have a four-game win streak, 9-1 goal differential over that span and now the best start in program history. The four-game win streak is the third longest in school history and the longest winning streak since the program won five straight in 2009.
Hear from @CoachDPittman on a hard-fought 1-0 win at Texas A&M Corpus Christ on Wednesday night! #BirdsUp 🤙 | #UTSADNA pic.twitter.com/cjoIjULD1Q
— UTSA Soccer (@UTSAWSOC) September 2, 2021
The Roadrunners got their lone goal from Kloza, a senior and San Antonio native. On the game-winning score, senior Ellis Patterson notched the assist off of a corner kick. It marked the second assist on the year for Patterson, who now has 15 in her five-year career, ranking third in program history. Patterson, a native of Austin, Texas, now has 51 career points and is tied for second in UTSA annals. It marked the second goal of the year – both game winners – and the fourth of her career for Kloza.
The first half of play was all UTSA, as they controlled the pace and aggression. The Roadrunners had 13 shots in the first half, whereas the Islanders only had three. After a couple near misses on headers in the 31st minute, Kloza converted on a corner-kick header to break the seal a minute later.
Conference USA Goalkeeper of the Week Jil Schneider continued her stellar play as she saved two shots and earned her third clean sheet of the season following the 1-0 game. She now owns 11 wins and six shutouts in her three-year career, ranking third in UTSA history in both categories. She wasn't the only solid defender Wednesday night however. The Roadrunners as a whole only allowed four Islander shots all game.
The bright spot for the Islanders on the night was their goalkeeper, Kennedy Stelling. On the night, Stelling faced seven shots on goal and saved six of them.
UTSA ended up outshooting TAMUCC by 12 and also outshot the Islanders in shots on goal by five. The Roadrunners totaled a 5-1 lead in corner kicks on the night.
UTSA looks to keep its historic streak going as they travel to Lubbock, Texas, to take on the Red Raiders (3-0-1) on Sunday at 7 p.m. That game will be played at the John Walker Soccer Complex and will be streamed on ESPN+.
- UTSA -