SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA soccer team (4-0-3) heads into the final non-conference contest of the season holding the top spot in the American Conference after stretching its unbeaten streak to seven. On Thursday, the Roadrunners host perennial national contender Santa Clara (3-2-3) at the Park West Athletics Complex in the Rowdy Rodeo and Alumni Night game, presented by Cowboys Air Conditioning & Heating. Thursday’s matchup between the Roadrunners and Broncos will kick off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
Game Theme/Promotions
Presented by Cowboys Air Conditioning & Heating, Thursday will not only be UTSA’s Rowdy Rodeo game, but will also welcome back Roadrunners from the program’s past 20 years for Alumni Night. Former players will be recognized at the game, while fans can get FREE orange LED UTSA cowboy hats while supplies last. Food trucks from Las Palapas and Donut NV will be at Park West and the UTSA players will sign autographs after the game.
On the Air
Catch the live broadcast from Park West streaming on ESPN+, featuring Jordy Fee-Platt (play-by-play) and Katie Goodman (analyst) on the broadcast call.
UTSA Athletics will also provide LIVE STATS from Park West.
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 and listed pricing includes fees
Buy Santa Clara vs. UTSA Tickets Here
- Adults - $12
- Juniors (ages 3-18) - $10
- Seniors (ages 65+) - $10
- Military (with ID) - $10
- UTSA Students: Free Admission with UTSA ID, download tickets at goUTSA.com/studentlogin.
About the Roadrunners
At 4-0-3, the Roadrunners are off to one of the best starts in program history and are among just 24 teams in the nation that remain undefeated. At the center of that success, the Roadrunners sit at or near the top of most American Conference statistics rankings, pacing the league in win percentage (.786), goal differential (8), points per game (7.14) and assists per game (2.57), while being edged by a hair on scoring offense (2.29 gpg). UTSA is fourth in the conference at 16 shots per outing as well. On the defensive end, the Roadrunners are second with a 1.14 goals-against-average, logging a .733 save percentage.
On her way to a program standout season already, redshirt sophomore midfielder Leah Varela ties for the NCAA lead with seven assists and 1.00 assists per game, pacing the team with nine points after earning American Midfielder of the Week on a two-assist, first career goal outing against UIW last week. Redshirt sophomore forward Ava Jackson and sophomore forward Brooklyn Bailey top the team with three goals apiece. Jackson already has a pair of assists and Bailey tops the American with 28 shots (4.00 spg); the 53rd-highest shooting total in the country. In goal, senior Jasmine Kessler has a 1.16 GAA, 22 saves and a .733 save percentage on the year.
With a perennially strong program coming to Park West, UTSA’s formidable fanbase will look to continue making it a tough venue for the opposition, as the Roadrunners have held a 68 percent (29-11-10) win rate at home since the 2020-21 season.
About the Santa Clara Broncos
The 2020 National Champion and perennial NCAA qualifier, Santa Clara saw a down season at 8-6-5 last year in their first campaign without double-digit wins since 2008. The Broncos have started the 40th season under Jerry Smith at 3-2-3 and are only playing their second road game of the year. SCU was dominant against Fresno State on Sunday, coming off back-to-back home losses to No. 6 Stanford and No. 21 UCLA. Santa Clara averages 1.5 goals on 14.25 shots per game, with 5.38 SOG per game and a .377 SOG percentage.
A 2024 and 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-Region performer, senior forward Kennedy Schoennauer has six of the Broncos’ 12 goals this season, and leads the team with 42 shots on the year and a .381 SOG percentage – placing her third in the NCAA with 5.25 shots per outing. Sophomore Rylan Cashman and freshman Lexie Douglass both have a pair of scores each. Pacing the assist effort, sophomore midfielder Hildi Benediktsdottir has four to date. Between the pipes, sophomore Ally Harrison returns as the primary starter after a solid, but limited, rookie season. She holds a 1.20 GAA with 27 saves and .750 save percentage.
Series history
This is the first meeting between these programs and the first against a West Coast Conference school since playing No. 2 Portland in the opening round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
UP NEXT: It’s full steam into the American Conference slate, heading to back-to-back road outings in North Carolina, with Thursday, Sept. 24 at East Carolina, followed by Sunday, Sept. 27 at Charlotte. The home conference opening will be Greek Night on Thursday, Oct. 1 against Rice at Park West.
- UTSA -