TAMPA, Fla. – The UTSA Roadrunners soccer team earned its first American Conference victory of the season by beating the South Florida Bulls 3-0 on Thursday at Corbett Stadium.
This was the third time the Roadrunners (5-3-4, 1-2-1 American) have scored at least three goals this season and the first time on the road.
The Roadrunners got off to a fast start, pressing their attack in the second minute. Sophomore Kacey Grahmann took control of the ball on the left side and sent a cross to redshirt sophomore Ava Jackson in the middle of the box. Jackson touched the ball off her outstretched left foot immediately to senior Addi O’Kelley who buried a shot into the lower left corner of the goal from 22 yards out to make the score 1-0.
O’Kelley has now scored twice in the Roadrunners’ last three matches. Jackson now has a career-high tying three assists. It was Grahmann’s first career assist and point.
That was all until the 64th minute, when redshirt sophomore Leah Varela sent a corner kick into the center of the box that redshirt sophomore Sadie Paul headed into the left side of the net.
Varela is now tied for the American Conference lead and second in the NCAA with nine assists.
It was Paul’s second goal of the season and first in conference play.
In the 80th minute, sophomore Brooklyn Bailey sent a cross to her left that landed in front a defender. Redshirt junior Smithson Valley alum Sabrina Taber came in from behind the defender and freed the ball with her knee before cutting in front to shoot across the mouth of the goal into the bottom left corner, extending the Roadrunners’ lead to 3-0.
It was Taber’s first goal as a Roadrunner.
Senior Jasmine Kessler (5-3-4) finished with four saves for her second shutout of the season.
"I’m really proud of our team’s grit and determination tonight," head coach Derek Pittman said. "Winning 3-0 on a rainy night in Tampa is a tough challenge, and to earn the first win in program history at South Florida makes it even more special. Our players competed, stayed disciplined, and found a way to get the job done on the road. This is a great result for our program, and we’ll keep building on it.”
Gaby Rourke (1-6-2) made five saves for the Bulls (2-6-3, 0-2-2 American).
The Roadrunners outshot the Bulls 12-9, including 7-4 on goal.
UTSA hosts UAB Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Park West Athletics Complex for Bark in the Park West, presented by Raising Cane’s. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at GoUTSA.com/Tickets.
Fans unable to attend the match in person can watch online via ESPN+.