SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA soccer team (4-2) remained perfect at home with last week’s win over Colorado State, but will travel beyond the Lone Star State for the first time in the 2024 season for Sunday’s matchup at Central Arkansas (0-4). The lone contest this week for the Roadrunners, Sunday’s game with the Bears will kick off at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Following the Action
Sunday’s matchup in Conway, Arkansas can be viewed live on ESPN+ with JB Brazeal (play-by-play) on the broadcast Call. UCA Athletics will also provide Live Stats.
About the Roadrunners
Seventh-year head coach Derek Pittman crested another career milestone with Sunday’s victory, reaching his 50th as UTSA’s head coach with a 1-0 win over Colorado State - which marks the third consecutive home triumph for the Roadrunners and brings the home record to 19-5-5 (.741) since the 2020’s disrupted season. The sixth different Roadrunner scored as sophomore forward Tyler Coker fired a shot to the upper right corner past the Rams’ keeper for the 49th-minute game-winner. Also adding goals this season, Bri Carrigan, Izzy Lane, Zoë May, Olivia Alvarez and Kameron Kloza – with four scores coming from 2024 newcomers. Against the Rams, UTSA dominated possession while controlling the ball 79 percent of the game and leading CSU in a 12-9 shot advantage – bringing UTSA’s season shot lead to 102-55 (54-24 SOG lead).
Sophomore goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler earned five saves and nine for the week, earning weekly American Athletic Conference Honorable Mention. She moved up to fourth in the UTSA career solo shutouts list with her second solo clean sheet of the season – in addition to a combined shutout.
At .529 SOG%, UTSA ranks third in the AAC and 53rd nationally in shot accuracy, putting up an AAC fourth-best 17.00 shots per game (52nd NCAA) and 9.00 shots on goal per game (30th NCAA). Second in the AAC with three shutouts and a 50 percent shutout average, the Roadrunners are second in the conference with a .667 goals-against-average (57th NCAA), aided by an AAC third-best .833 save percentage.
About Central Arkansas
A rocky start so far to head coach Jeremy Bishop’s 13th season leading the Bears with an 0-4 opening for Central Arkansas. UCA earned an 8-7-5 finish in 2023. Facing some talented offensive opposition, the Bears have been outscored 14-2 with a 67-24 shot deficit in 2024. Senior Anna Kerr and freshman Sophia Backstrom both scored goals in UCA’s opener at Tulsa. Quieted so far, senior midfielder Kelly Van Gundy scored a team-high seven goals and four assists, while sophomore midfielder Megan Moudy also had three goals in her rookie season.
After starting 17 games last season between the pipes, senior Kajsa Pruner is back in goal, along with junior Lenja Kenstel, the pair combining for a 3.50 GAA with a .632 save percentage. Opponents have fired off an efficient .612 SOG% in the early season.
Series history
Sunday will mark the eighth overall meeting in the series and UTSA leads 7-0 with three previous trips to Conway – the last a 2-1 2011 triumph for the Roadrunners. In the latest for the series dating back to UTSA’s first season in 2006, UTSA and UCA met last season at Park West, with the Roadrunners racking up a 5-1 victory – including Jordan Walker’s 84th-minute goal to cap off the big win. The Roadrunners outshot the Bears 21-1.
UP NEXT: It’s already time to open American Athletic Conference play, with UTSA hosting the UAB Blazers on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Roadrunners’ Salute to Educators and Run as One game. The Roadrunners and Blazers battled to a 1-1 draw last season in Birmingham.
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