SAN ANTONIO – Riding a three-game win streak and sitting at second in the American Conference standings, the UTSA soccer team (5-2-2) are hosting a major rivalry matchup with North Texas (4-5-1) in the American home opener on Thursday night at the Park West Athletics Complex, presented by Cowboys Air Conditioning & Heating. Officially celebrating the program’s 20th season and hosting the annual Run as One game, the Roadrunners and Mean Green will kick off for the 15th time at 7 p.m. on Thursday, with the game broadcast on ESPN+
UTSA Soccer’s 20th Season/Run as One
The Roadrunners opened competition as an NCAA Division I program on Aug. 25, 2006, at the UTSA Rec Fields against Texas Tech. Thursday, UTSA will take the opportunity to honor the foundation of all the past teams and alumni in officially celebrating the program’s 20th season. In addition, all UTSA student-athletes are encouraged to attend as part of the annual Run as One game. The first 250 fans through the gate will receive a commemorative 20th season t-shirt. UTSA fan engagement staff will also have a free raffle with some big prizes, including two (2) football tickets and sideline passes, an official ball signed by head coach Derek Pittman, a retired UTSA soccer jersey, a team-signed 20th season t-shirt, UTSA swag bags and a UTSA vest.
Following the action
The game will be carried live on ESPN+ with Karl Schoening and Katie Goodman on the broadcast call.
UTSA Athletics will also provide live stats.
Aiming for the All-Time Single-Game Attendance Record
Adding to the historic night, UTSA is looking to break the Park West single-game attendance record of 1,397 set in 2023 against Central Arkansas. On top of big raffle prizes, UTSA Athletics supporter April Ancira will be throwing Ancira Cash Cannon shirts into the crowd at halftime loaded with a total of $3,000 cash for fans. Each shirt has between $10 and $100 in it. When UTSA Soccer breaks the attendance record, April Ancira also will donate $3,000 to the UTSA Soccer program.
Tickets to Thursday’s Game
Single-game tickets are available online, at the UTSA ticket office and at the Park West box office (an hour before game time).
All seating is general admission - Buy North Texas vs. UTSA Tickets Here
- Adults - $10
- Juniors (ages 3-18) - $7
- Seniors (ages 65+) - $7
- Military (with ID) - $7
- UTSA Students: Free Admission with UTSA ID, download tickets at goUTSA.com/studentlogin.
About the Roadrunners
The Roadrunners have won three straight, including last Thursday’s American Conference opener on the road at Florida Atlantic. Senior defensive midfielder Zoё May put away the keeper’s save from freshman Brooklyn Bailey’s header, netting the opening score in the first two minutes. Though the Owls battled back to even it the in the 59th minute, May again came up big for UTSA, tracking down her own blocked shot and looping the game-winning service to the backside of the keeper for redshirt sophomore Aaliyaiah Durden’s goal.
Though allowing only the third goal of the season against the Owls, the Roadrunners remain among the nationally elite defenses, topping the American in goals-against-average (ninth NCAA) at 0.33 and save percentage (ninth NCAA) at .912. UTSA is second in the American and 19th nationally with a .667 shutout percentage, with six clean sheets in nine games. At 38 consecutive starts as the UTSA all-time shutouts and draws leader, junior goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler is individually 14th in the NCAA in GAA (0.36), 14th in save percentage (.906) and 18th in solo shutouts at four – leading the conference in all three stats. May has risen to the forefront with a team-high three goals and two assists on a.583 SOG percentage, ahead of Durden with two goals. Bailey is up to a team-best 14 shots, while May, Michelle Polo, Izzy Lane and Leah Varela each have 12.
One of the toughest places to play in the nation, the Roadrunners are looking to keep the Park West magic going, where UTSA holds a 68.8 win percentage (24-9-7) since the 2020-21 spring season.
About the North Texas Mean Green
So far in the 31st season under John Hedlund, the Mean Green have started the year at 4-5-1, falling in two of the last three road outings, including at Louisiana-Monroe (0-1), Army West Point (1-3) and tying at NJIT (1-1). Picked at fifth in the preseason conference coaches poll, UNT is averaging 1.6 goals per game off an American-leading barrage of 20.1 shots per game – averaging a .438 SOG percentage. A trio of keepers have taken the net, leaving UNT with a 1.40 team GAA, a .611 save percentage and 14 goals across the 10 games. North Texas is playing its first conference game of the season.
Starting the last six outings, Motlow State College junior transfer Alina Arneth has a 1.05 GAA and .741 save percentage. Spearheading UNT’s offensive continuity, third-year junior midfielder Mia Bernard, fourth-year senior forward Summer Brown and sophomore forward Claire Niedermeier each have three goals apiece to lead the Mean Green. Bernard has notched four assists, ahead of 2024 All-Conference grad student Rachel Roebuck with three.
Series history
With proximity and a rivalry vibe between these schools, they are meeting for the 15th time in this series – the Mean Green holding an 8-5-1 after last year’s 2-2 comeback draw in Denton. UTSA scored in the second and 49th minute last year, but each time, UNT had an answer – knotting the final score off Emma King’s 86th-minute goal. UTSA is 2-3 in the series at home, last winning at Park West in Oct. 2021 with a 1-0 overtime triumph.
UP NEXT: Now in back-to-back weeks, the Roadrunners will have a Sunday BYE to open conference play, traveling to UAB next Thursday, then facing Charlotte at home on Sunday at Park West.
- UTSA -