COMMERCE, Texas – Coming through with the game on the line Brooklyn Bailey put away the game-winning goal with mere seconds on the clock to push UTSA soccer (3-0-3) past East Texas A&M (1-4-1) on Thursday night at Lion Soccer Field. The 2-1 road victory kept the Roadrunners undefeated through the fifth week and earned ninth-year head coach Derek Pittman’s 67th UTSA victory for the outright most coaching wins in UTSA history, surpassing Steve Ballard (2006-13).
After opening on a solid chance from Bri Carrigan, the Roadrunner offense kept the Lions’ defense busy, including five first-half corners. UTSA pushed out to an early lead as freshman Lilli Denhardt registered her second goal of the year, taking advantage of Makayla Gonzalez’ punch of a free kick, netting the deflection in the 15th minute. The Roadrunners wrapped the half with a 1-0 lead after an insurance goal was reversed on appeal in the final minute of the period.
The East Texas A&M offense picked up its intensity to match the Roadrunners in the opening 20 minutes of the second half, with senior keeper Jasmine Kessler registering two saves in that stretch as the Lions rung up seven shots. Meanwhile, the Roadrunners were busy with five shots of their own, forcing three Emmy Finlinson saves in the same span.
The Lions maintained that pressure as the half wore on, and finally broke through to knot the score at 1-1 on Phoebe Wilson’s free kick score in the 85th minute with ETAMU’s 16th and final shot of the night.
Staring down the draw, the Roadrunners’ determination prevailed in the closing moments, despite the save on Aaliyaiah Durden’s close-range attempt with 41 seconds to go, as sophomore Caroline Pelkofski intercepted Finlinson’s final goal kick and pushed the ball ahead to sophomore Sofia Peters, who went over the top to find her classmate, Bailey, racing up the middle of the field to beat Finlinson with her left foot on the game-winning goal with 14 seconds remaining.
The Roadrunners finished with 15 shots with nine placed on goal, paced by Bailey and redshirt sophomore Leah Varela with three apiece – Bailey logging her third goal of the season and first career game winner. Defensively, Kessler registered five saves on the night.
Goals
UTSA: Lilli Denhardt (15’), Brooklyn Bailey (90’)
ETAMU: Phoebe Wilson (85’)
Quoting Coach Derek Pittman
“Credit to East Texas A&M; they made this a really tough game and a difficult environment on the road. We missed plenty of chances, but I’m proud of how we stayed composed and kept fighting. To find a way to score with seconds left says a lot about the character and belief of this team. It wasn’t our best performance, but we found a way to win.”
Up Next
The Roadrunners will rest up in preparation for next Thursday’s Sept. 10 Hometown Showdown matchup with UIW for the annual Salute to Educators night at Park West.
- UTSA -