COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – UTSA soccer’s (2-2-2) Colorado Mountain West swing closed out Sunday in a scoreless draw at Stewart Field against Colorado College (2-1-2). Both goalkeepers stayed active, particularly in the second half, as Sunday’s defensively keyed battle saw the clock expire without a score on the board – also moving Jasmine Kessler to the new UTSA record-holder for solo shutouts.
Already billed as a defensive standoff, the Tigers and Roadrunners went all the way into the 13th minute without a single shot on the board, before CC’s Finley Schoenbeck broke the deadlock with a wide right attempt at 12:42. UTSA was quick to counter, as freshman Brooklyn Bailey logged the first UTSA shot just 46 seconds later, blocked by the Tigers. Redshirt freshman Ava Jackson followed with the first shot on goal of the afternoon at just before the 20-minute mark, saved by CC’s Regan Wallace.
The teams went blow-for-blow with three shots and a pair on goal through the 30th minute. The Tigers managed a dangerous curving shot off the crossbar heading into the final minutes, but UTSA turned up the temperature as the half ticked away. A triple-set of near-corner throw-ins finally yielded a strike from redshirt freshman Brooke Viccars onto the top of the net in the 43rd minute, but a quick turnover off the clearance set freshman Kamryn Watson for an attempt that went wide. Racing to put up a score before the break, junior goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler’s free kick created a scramble and the opportunity for freshman Emelie Ekman to fire off a shot with seven seconds remaining – unfortunately blocked by Tiger defenders to send the teams to half in a scoreless tie.
Picking up right where they left off, freshman Kennedy Reed and senior Izzy Lane fired off shots in the opening five minutes of the new half, the first high and the second saved by Wallace. The offenses stayed active throughout the second and Kessler saw the temperature turned up, making three second-half saves in the first 25 minutes of the period – but turned up the heat on Wallace with a free kick on-target shot punched up for the save in the 76th minute.
The Tigers got off two more shots in the final 10 minutes and senior Zoë May fired the final chance for the Roadrunners with 48 seconds to go, but Wallace’s last save secured the scoreless draw.
The Roadrunners put 12 shots in play to 10 for the Tigers, both team’s taking five on-target attempts. May paced 11 Roadrunners logging an attempt, taking two shots. Kessler registered five saves and recorded her 13th career clean sheet, surpassing Dacia Webb (2009-11) and Jil Schneider (2019-22) to take over as the UTSA all-time recordholder.
Goals
UTSA: None
CC: None
Quoting Coach Derek Pittman
“It was a battle on the road today. Playing on turf, at altitude, against a fresh Colorado College team that’s been off for seven days made for tough conditions, but our group showed grit and discipline to earn a result on the road. Proud of our players and we can’t wait to get home and prepare for the Hometown Showdown against UIW on Thursday night at Toyota Field. Hope to see everyone out to raise the support and atmosphere for women’s soccer in San Antonio.”
Up Next
The new week brings the final stretch of non-conference action for the Roadrunners. UTSA will next play in San Antonio on Sept. 4 with the Hometown Showdown against UIW at Toyota Field. On Sunday, the Roadrunners will face East Texas A&M (formerly Texas A&M-Commerce) at Park West for Family Day/Meep Meep Peeps Day.
- UTSA -