SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA soccer team returns home for the first time in three weeks, hosting Middle Tennessee on Thursday for the Roadrunners' Pink Out match. The match will be streamed on CUSA.tv at 7 p.m. (CT) at Park West Athletics Complex.
Admission is free for all home matches at Park West Athletics Complex. The first 100 fans will get pink shirts as part of the Pink Out. Fans will also be given "Think Pink" wristbands, while supplies last. In partnership with Zeta Tau Alpha's Pink Week, the sorority will be on site fundraising with a lemonade and cookie sale.
The Roadrunners hold a 6-4-4 overall record (1-2-3 in C-USA play) after a 1-1 draw with UAB on Oct. 9. UTSA has collected six points towards Conference USA standings, currently sitting in eighth place. The top eight teams at the conclusion of the regular season make it into the Conference USA Tournament.
The Roadrunners are coming off a 1-1 draw with then-conference leader UAB on Sunday, Oct 9. UTSA struck first and early as Kiran Singh scored a goal in the third minute of the match to give the Roadrunners a 1-0 advantage. The Roadrunners kept the Blazers to just three shots in the first half, taking a 1-0 advantage to halftime. In the second half, UAB picked up the pace as they fired off six shots and eventually found the back of the net to tie the match up at 1-1 in the 74th minute. UTSA had a great look at goal in the 85th minute but the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
LEADING THE ROADRUNNERS
Nationally, UTSA ranks in the top-50 in two different categories, including 38th in assists per game (2.00) and 26th in total assists (28). The team is second in the Conference USA with 221 shots, 78 points, 25 goals and 28 assists. The Roadrunners have allowed the second-least goals (12) in the conference through 14 matches. As a team, the Roadrunners have outshot their opponents by 221 shots to 111 shots through the season so far.
Singh leads the team with 34 shots (14 on goal) and 13 points (four goals and five assists), starting in all 14 matches. In the nation, Singh has the 72nd-most total assists. Preseason Conference Team selection Anna Sutter trails her with nine points, consisting of three goals and three assists.
Sasjah Dade was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 30. Although she is a defender by trade, Dade has contributed greatly on offense as she has seven points consisting of three goals and one assist. She is fourth in the conference with two game-winning goals. Defensively, she has an impressive 77 percent of defensive challenges won and 83 percent successful tackles.
The defensive line of Dade, Deja Sandoval, Kendall Kloza and Sabrina Hillyer have played integral roles in the Roadrunners only allowing 12 goals and recording four shutouts through the first 14 matches, accounting for 4,450 minutes combined.
SERIES HISTORY
In the all-time series, UTSA holds a 3-1-1 advantage over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. The teams last played each other on Sept. 22, 2019, when the Roadrunners fell to the Blue Raiders, 4-3, after one overtime period. Then-freshman Abby Kassal and Sandoval both scored a goal in the loss. Kloza, Sarina Russ and Sandoval played all 97 minutes of the last matchup.
SCOUTING THE BLUE RAIDERS
Middle Tennessee is coming off a 4-3 loss to Louisiana Tech on Sunday, Oct. 9, to bring their overall record to 2-7-3 (0-3-2 in Conference USA play). The Blue Raiders were picked to finish seventh of 11 teams in the C-USA, based on the preseason conference coaches' poll.
Kirstine Lykke leads the Blue Raiders with eight points, all consisting of four goals. Emma Pettersen has 26 shots, including 11 on target.
UP NEXT: The Roadrunners hit the road for their final road test of the season, facing North Texas on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Soccer and Track & Field Stadium in Denton, Texas.
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