SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA soccer team defeated the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks, 4-2, in a Sunday showdown at Park West Athletics Complex.
The Roadrunners hosted their last nonconference matchup before Conference USA play starts this upcoming Wednesday. In the matchup with the Ladyjacks, UTSA outshot SFA by 21 shots (11 on target) to seven shots (four on goal). The Roadrunners held a 58 percent possession advantage through the match.
Kloza led the team with four shots (all on target) and the game-winning goal, the defender's first goal of the season. Alissa Stewart fired off three shots, including two on target and a goal scored. Kloza, along with defender Deja Sandoval, played the entire 90 minutes of the match. Goalkeeper Jil Schneider earned her third win of the season, notching two saves.
Through the first 40 minutes of the match, the Roadrunners and Ladyjacks combined for 13 shots fired off but neither team was able to score as they battled for the advantage. SFA struck first as the Ladyjacks broke away to a 1-0 lead as Jayme Bailey scored in the 41st minute.
The Roadrunners kicked it into high gear in the last few minutes, fighting to get a number on the board. After UTSA was awarded a foul call, Kloza sent the free kick into the Roadrunners' attacking box, where Sandoval then headed it towards Marlee Fray. Fray then launched it into the goal, where it ricocheted off the left post and found the back of the net, tying the game at 1-1.
UTSA then took a 2-1 advantage less than 20 seconds before the first half ended. Zoe Lam took a throw in which she sent to Fray. Fray battled past the Ladyjacks' defender Destiny Ramirez, sending a cross to Ariana Gomez who knocked the ball in and gave the Roadrunners the 2-1 lead going into halftime.
In the second half, the Roadrunners fired off nine shots while keeping the Ladyjacks to three shots. UTSA earned four corner kicks, while SFA did not have any during the second half. In the first 20 minutes of the second half, it was all UTSA as they fired off three shots and earned three corner kicks. SFA tied up the game in the 67th minute as the Ladyjacks' Reaganne Crane scored to make it a 2-2 game.
After 13 minutes in which neither team scored, the Roadrunners capitalized on a corner kick opportunity. Kiran Singh launched the ball to Kloza who then headed the ball into the net, giving UTSA the 3-2 lead in the 80th minute.
In the 83rd minute, the Roadrunners battled past SFA's defense as Anna Sutter passed the ball to Alissa Stewart. Stewart launched it to the goalkeeper which then bounced right back to Stewart for a second chance at the net. Stewart then found the back of the net to put the Roadrunners up by two.
Through the final seven minutes, the Ladyjacks were kept to a single shot as the Roadrunners kept the defense up to keep their lead. UTSA took a 4-2 victory over Stephen F. Austin, setting the team up with momentum heading into the conference schedule.
UTSA's record improves to 5-1-1, while SFA falls to 1-4-1 on the season.
GOALS
UTSA: Marlee Fray (44'), Ariana Gomez (45'), Kendall Kloza (80'), Alissa Stewart (83')
SFA: Jayme Bailey (41'), Reaganne Crane (67')
UP NEXT
The Roadrunners and Park West Athletics Complex will see plenty more action in the next week. UTSA opens up conference action at home as they host Rice on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (CT), then hosting another conference match against Charlotte on next Sunday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m.
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