SAN ANTONIO – The lone remaining undefeated American Conference team, UTSA soccer (2-0-3) departs to Commerce, Texas, this week to return last year’s matchup with East Texas A&M (1-3-1) on Thursday night at Lion Soccer Stadium. The fourth installment in the UTSA-led series will kick off at 7 p.m. and be broadcast on ESPN+.
On the Air and On the Web
Catch the live broadcast from Lion Soccer Stadium streaming on ESPN+ with Daniel Robertson on the broadcast call.
ETAMU Athletics will also provide LIVE STATS from Commerce.
About the Roadrunners
Coming off a weather-delayed draw the last time at home, the Roadrunners enter the week undefeated at 2-0-3 and looking to extend their streak in the short series. Already a historically tough defensive program by design, the 2026 Roadrunners lead the American in scoring offense at a 60th-ranked 2.20 gpg on 13.6 shots per outing. Working the offense as a collective, UTSA also tops the conference with a 30th-ranked 2.6 assists per game. Defensively, UTSA is second in the American with a 1.20 goals-against-average on a .684 save percentage. Leading the offensive effort and sitting in second in the league, redshirt sophomore Ava Jackson has three goals, ahead of sophomore Brooklyn Bailey and redshirt freshman Dulci Binns with a pair apiece – among seven scoring Roadrunners. Last season, UTSA had 27 goals through 22 games, and currently sit at 11 with just five games in the books. Topping the assist effort, redshirt sophomore Leah Varela ranks 13th in the nation with a league-high four assists (0.80 apg), while Jackson and sophomore transfer Caroline Pelkofski have a pair each. In goal, senior Jasmine Kessler has started 57 consecutive games and holds a 1.23 GAA and .684 save percentage this season with 13 saves.
Ninth-year head coach Derek Pittman tied the all-time coaching wins record (66) with the victory over St. Mary’s; heading to Commerce looking to capture the outright lead.
About the East Texas A&M Lions
The Lions head into the week at 1-3-1 in the fifth season under Ashley Gordon, capturing a road win at Grambling in the opener, but dropping three of the last four. The Lions were fourth in the Southland Conference last year and were picked at No. 2 in the 2026 preseason poll. ETAMU continues last season’s low-scoring offensive numbers, putting up 0.80 goals, 9.2 shots and 3.8 shots-on-goal per game so far. The standout shooter to date, UT Permian Basin transfer junior Allyson Reed has taken 15 shots (32.6 percent of ETAMU’s total) and has one goal and one assist. Addison Eli, Liberty Plasek and Addisen Ramirez round out all four of the Lions’ goals so far. Sul Ross State transfer Emmy Finlinson and returning senior Makayla Gonzalez have split time between the pipes, combining for a 2.00 GAA and .697 save percentage with 23 combined saves, allowing 10 goals against 83 shots faced.
Series history
The Roadrunners have had control with a 3-0 start to the series, including last year’s 3-0 rain-drenched Rowdy’s Water Park game last September at Park West. A year ago, the Roadrunners triumphed in a downpour with a 3-0 victory, with goals from Jackson, Zoe May and Isabel Peters. The last meeting in Commerce, the series opener in 2022, saw a 2-0 UTSA triumph; winning 4-1 in 2023 in San Antonio.
UP NEXT: Another opportunity to rest with Sunday off, looking ahead to cross-town competition from UIW in the Hometown Showdown, Thursday, Sept. 10 at Park West for UTSA’s annual Salute to Educators.
- UTSA -