SAN ANTONIO – Leaning on goals from Brittany Holden (28'), Maddie Reynolds (52') and Deja Sandoval (56'), the UTSA soccer team turned in a commanding performance to close off its exhibition contests on Saturday night at the Park West Athletics Complex. UTSA fully controlled the momentum against the cross-town Cardinals in the 3-0 victory with a suffocating defensive performance.
The Roadrunners decided the pace early and kept the Cardinals at bay while maintaining possession 57 percent of the opening half. UTSA finally broke through to tack a score on the board when Avery Chaney whipped the ball from wide right from the top of the box across the goal to Holden for the point-blank goal in the 28th minute for the 1-0 lead.
That score proved to be the offensive spark UTSA needed before halftime, finishing the period with a 9-0 shot advantage over the visiting Cardinals, priming the offense for early strikes in the second half.
The Roadrunners maintained offensive pressure in the new period and quickly capitalized off a right-side free kick, as Reynolds hammered the ball from 25 yards at 52 minutes, bending around the wall for the 2-0 lead.
UTSA delivered its final score in the 56th minute, as Sandoval went up off a deflected header and finished with a header of her own to secure the Roadrunners third goal.
The stat sheet bent heavily toward the Roadrunners, leading UIW 20-3 in total shots, forcing five saves and maintaining their attack deep in Cardinals territory for 41 percent of the game. The Cardinals didn't successfully take a shot until the 71st minute. Sandoval and Sabrina Hillyer led the effort with four shots, while Reynolds and Holden had three apiece.
Goals
UTSA: Brittany Holden (28'), Maddie Reynolds (52'), Deja Sandoval (56')
UIW: None
Quoting Coach Derek Pittman
"We played 21 players and we looked so much better in our shape. My biggest thing is that we did not give up a single shot until 72 minutes into the game and I'm very proud of our team for that. It was a really good test because they challenged us and asked questions of us, and I thought our team handled it really well. Really pleased with where we are at this point and excited to work next week as we get ready for our home opener."
Up Next
The Roadrunners officially kick off the 2023 season next week and are the first program to compete as a member of the American Athletic Conference, back at Park West on Thursday, August 17 against Central Arkansas in the seventh meeting of the series.
- UTSA -
