SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA soccer team earned its first Conference USA win, defeating Charlotte by a final score of 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at Park West Athletics Complex.
Facing another C-USA foe that will also be making the move to the American Athletic Conference next year, the Roadrunners defeated the 49ers to even the all-time series to 3-3-1.
Bouncing back after a conference-opening loss to Rice, UTSA came into this match with a fire in its performance. The Roadrunners outplayed the 49ers in every category, including a margin of 20 shots to six shots and 12 corner kicks to three corner kicks. UTSA had a 59 percent possession advantage throughout the match.
Starting goalkeeper Jil Schneider earned her first solo shutout of the season, recording five saves in the match. With the shutout, Schneider ties the program record for most career shutouts (12). Jordan Hyland led the team with three shots (two on net). Jordan Walker and Olivia Alvarez both scored their first career goals.
Through the first 45 minutes of action, the Roadrunners outshot the 49ers, nine shots to four shots. UTSA earned quite a few opportunities in the first two minutes of the match, including a corner kick and two shots (one on goal). The last seven minutes of the first half was all Roadrunners, as they earned five corner kicks and fired off three shots before they went into halftime with a 0-0 draw.
UTSA set the tone for the second half of the match just 30 seconds into action, earning a corner kick which resulted in two shots (one on goal) all within the first two minutes of the half. In the next 10 minutes after that, the Roadrunners earned two more corner kicks and fired off three more shots before finding the advantage.
In the 57th minute, Anna Sutter sent a cross in the middle of the box, which Walker then headed past Charlotte's leaping goalkeeper Brenna Murray into the top left of the net, giving UTSA the 1-0 lead.
The next 20 minutes of action were heavy on the defensive side. The 49ers fired off two shots, both which Schneider saved, and earned one corner kick but the Roadrunners did not allow them to score on those opportunities.
UTSA felt the pressure from Charlotte's defense but battled for possession with less than 15 minutes left to play. Savannah Powell fought past the 49ers defense, passing the ball to Alvarez just outside of the box. Alvarez found an opening in the defensive line, launching the ball right past them into the net for a 2-0 UTSA advantage in the 78th minute.
In the last eight minutes of the match, the Roadrunners didn't slow down as they earned one more corner kick and launched four more shots before the end of the match. Charlotte countered with one corner kick in that span but UTSA prevented them from scoring. The Roadrunners shutout the 49ers, 2-0, for their first C-USA win of the season.
UTSA's record improves to 6-2-1 (1-1-0 in C-USA action), while Charlotte falls to 1-6-2 (0-2-0 in C-USA play) on the season. The win gives the Roadrunners three points in the conference standings.
GOALS
UTSA: Jordan Walker (58'), Olivia Alvarez (78')
CHARLOTTE: N/A
UP NEXT
The Roadrunners hit the road for some conference action in the Sunshine State. UTSA will play Florida Atlantic on Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. in Boca Raton, Fla. The team will then head to Florida International in Miami on Sept. 25 for an 11 a.m. kickoff.
-UTSA-
