BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UTSA soccer team (6-2-3, 2-0-1 AMER) remained unbeaten in the month of September, but the Roadrunners’ win streak closed at four with a conference road point as UAB (3-2-6, 0-0-3 AMER) held UTSA just long enough for the 1-1 draw on Thursday night at PNC Field. Both teams put a score on the board in the second half off putback opportunities, as Ava Jackson equalized the score in the 63rd minute to keep the Roadrunners tied at the top of the American Conference standings.
A very physical night in Birmingham that totaled 21 fouls and three yellow cards, the Roadrunners got an early opportunity as the Blazers attempted to spread the field wide, with freshman Brooklyn Bailey firing off a shot in the first 30 seconds. UAB came with the pressure right back, forcing two saves by Jasmine Kessler in back-to-back possessions before reaching the eighth minute. UTSA countered with a pair of their own, saved by Leah Parsons among four shots over a five-minute span. However, both goalkeepers held up the stalemate into the break, with UAB notching six shots to UTSA’s five.
Just 21 seconds out of the break, senior Izzy Lane nearly snuck one past Parsons, but the scoreboard remained blank for nearly eight more minutes. However, in the 53rd minute, the Blazers were able to maintain possession in the 18-yard box after two rejected shots, giving the chance for Brielle Rochester to slip one past Kessler on the third try – only the fourth goal past the Spring, Texas junior this season.
Playing in a deficit, the Roadrunners wasted little time in knotting the score. Working up the left side in the 63rd minute, freshman Kacey Grahmann served the ball into the middle for a Jackson header, pushed across to Lane on the right side. Lane fired a shot on the run, batted out by Parsons, but right into the path of a crashing Jackson, who netted the equalizing goal for the Roadrunners.
Both teams registered another dangerous opportunity and the final two minutes created added tension with a UAB free kick in the final 13 seconds, but the score remained 1-1 as time expired, UAB earning its fifth consecutive draw and the third for the Roadrunners this season.
Bailey paced the Roadrunners’ shooting effort with four attempts, two on goal, while Lane placed both of her attempts on target and Jackson scored her second goal in the last four games. In total, the Roadrunners fired off 16 shots, placing seven on target. Between the pipes, Kessler logged five saves, matching her third-highest total on the year.
With a Memphis win over South Florida and Rice topping Temple on Thursday night, UTSA’s road point in Birmingham keeps the Roadrunners in a three-way tie for the American Conference lead.
Goals
UAB: Brielle Rochester (53’)
UTSA: Ava Jackson (63’)
Quoting Coach Derek Pittman
“We started slow tonight, but grew into the game as it went on. I’m proud of how we responded in the second half, created several quality chances and battled back from a goal down to earn a valuable point on the road against a tough UAB team. We gutted it out, and now we can’t wait to get back home and play Charlotte on Sunday at Park West.”
UP NEXT: On Sunday, UTSA will return to Park West as host to Charlotte in the first two-game conference week so far this season. Sunday’s matchup will kick off at 12 p.m. and will be Hispanic Heritage and International Day.
- UTSA -