FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The UTSA soccer team (2-2-1) fell behind early and continued to battle into the closing seconds of Thursday’s late-night road opener at Colorado State (4-0). Although UTSA was efficient in its attempts throughout the night and shut the Rams down quickly, Olivia Fout’s goal in the first two minutes proved to be the deciding factor in UTSA’s 1-0 loss at the CSU Soccer Complex.
Playing on the road and at altitude for the first time, Thursday’s lightning-delayed game saw a 55-minute pause before things could get started on CSU Soccer Complex’s soggy field that still bore visible puddles in the final minute of action from the pregame thunderstorm.
Coming out of the kickoff, the Rams went right at the Roadrunners and two-time All-Mountain West forward Fout broke through UTSA’s backline, winning the 1v1 on a bottom-left goal with only 1:56 elapsed.
The Roadrunners quickly recovered and took a much more aggressive stance beyond the 10-minute mark, hardly allowing the ball to escape the CSU half over the ensuing 10 minutes. UTSA reeled off seven first-half shots, including close-call attempts on goal by Leah Varela, Izzy Lane and a pair from Rylee Miller, but goalkeeper Gray Willson was able to punch out saves to hold onto the Rams’ lead. Meanwhile, UTSA’s defense held Colorado State without another on-target shot in the opening period.
In the second half, UTSA ticked things up a notch but Willson held the Roadrunners off the board. Michelle Polo spotted up a long saved free kick in the 52nd minute, and another free kick from Jasmine Kessler set up Kameron Kloza in the 72nd minute before the shot went wide.
Although the Rams spent the final six minutes actively burning clock, which led to two yellow cards, Varela gave UTSA one final opportunity, firing a bullet dead center on the goal before Willson scooped her sixth save that would secure the result.
UTSA went on-target with six of its 13 shots and held CSU to only three SOG – with Kessler making two second-half saves. Lane led UTSA with four shots, while Varela posted three takes.
Goals
UTSA: None
CSU: Olivia Fout (2’)
Quoting Coach Derek Pittman
“After the weather delay and the heavy rain, we didn’t adjust as quickly as we should have to the conditions and it showed in our execution. Colorado State is a quality side and although we had moments, we didn’t stick to our game plan and the basics of the game to get the result. Losses like this sting, but they also teach us, and we’ll grow from it moving forward.”
Up Next
The Roadrunners remain in Colorado and on the Mountain West swing, heading to Colorado College on Sunday for the Roadrunners’ first day game of the season. UTSA will next play in San Antonio on Sept. 4 with the Hometown Showdown against UIW at Toyota Field.
- UTSA -