DENTON, Texas – Despite creating more offensive opportunities in the second half, the UTSA soccer team (7-5-5, 3-4-2 AMER) came away from Norma Knobel Hunt Stadium with a 2-1 rivalry loss at North Texas (5-6-6, 1-3-5 AMER). The Roadrunners saw one goal called back on review, and redshirt sophomore Ava Jackson’s late-game putback wasn’t enough as the Mean Green held off the closing UTSA attacks.
The Mean Green maintained the upper hand in the first half, limiting UTSA to just two shots while North Texas’ Beya Rosales finished the play with a header on a high-arc cross for the 24th-minute lead that would extend into halftime. The Roadrunners earned four corner opportunities but were unable to convert.
Out of the locker room after the half, UTSA quickly became more aggressive offensively, doubling its first-half shot total in the opening five minutes and matching North Texas with seven shots in the second half.
However, North Texas made the most of its first shot of the half, as Payton Annis worked through the back line to find a solo goal in the back corner for a 2-0 lead after 60 minutes.
The Roadrunners responded quickly, ripping off four shots in the next six minutes, including a 66th-minute goal that was overturned following a North Texas challenge. After fending off another stretch of Mean Green shots, redshirt junior Sabrina Taber dropped a cross into the box, deflected by goalkeeper Sarah Margaret Seabrook, but Jackson was right there to clean up the rebound off the post and trim the deficit to 2-1 in the 79th minute – registering her fourth goal of the year.
However, the Mean Green defense held off the Roadrunners just long enough to avoid the comeback and close out the North Texas win.
Jackson led the shooting effort for UTSA with three attempts, while Brooklyn Bailey had a pair. An active day for goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler, the senior recorded a season-high seven saves.
Like almost every recent meeting in the series, the matchup was physical; the teams combined for 20 fouls and a pair of yellow cards.
Goals
UTSA: Ava Jackson (79’)
UNT: Beya Rosales (24’), Payton Annis (60’)
Quoting Coach Derek Pittman
“I’m really proud of our players’ response and toughness in the second half. Sadly, we didn’t start on the front foot or execute the details of the game plan enough to get a result. It’s now down to three teams, fighting for the last two spots in the tournament. Thankfully, we are still in the fight, and we will respond on Tuesday night in front of our home fans.”
UP NEXT: Tuesday's regular-season finale at the Park West Athletics Complex on Nov. 3 will be consequential for the Roadrunners, hosting Florida Atlantic with sights set on the conference tournament. Tuesday is UTSA’s Fan Appreciation Game and fans can take advantage of the online-only Fan Appreciation Offer with $7 Tickets. The American Championships, featuring the top eight teams in the league, will run from Nov. 8-14 at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
- UTSA -