The UCA women’s soccer team lost 3-0 against the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex.
The Sept. 8. game marked the fifth loss of the season for the Bears.
“They were a good team, so we really just wanted to get out and compete with them and give ourselves a chance to win,” head coach Jeremy Bishop said. “[We] played well the first 35-40 minutes, gave up a couple soft goals towards the end, [which] took us out of the chance to really push for the win.”
Freshman forward Kayla Hurley attempted the first shot of the game off the opening kick, but the shot veered left of the post.
Hurley’s attempt was followed by sophomore midfielder Megan Moudy, but her shot was denied by Roadrunner goalkeeper sophomore Jasmine Kessler.
The match then stood at an offensive stalemate until Roadrunner freshman forward Addy Johnson converted a free kick from Kessler past Bear junior goalkeeper Lenja Kenstel for the first goal of the match in the 38th minute.
In the next minute, Johnson beat Kenstel to the goal again, notching a header off of assists from Roadrunner sophomore midfielders Michelle Polo and Hannah Warnken.
Although the remainder of the game saw additional shot attempts from Hurley, junior midfielder Brianna Lopez and junior forward Nina Mazzolina, the Bears (0-5) were never able to lead the ball into the net.
“We did a good job of competing for the ball, making them [UTSA] chase at times. We just didn’t do enough of that,” Bishop said. “When we’re at our best, we’re going to make them chase, finding that open player, and we did that at times.”
The Roadrunners (5-2), after obtaining a yellow card at 56:12, were able to secure one additional goal in the 58th minute courtesy of senior defender Sasja Dade’s strike off of a free kick from sophomore midfielder Sophie Morrin.
“It’s a bit frustrating because we’re having a hard time getting the ball into the goal,” junior defender Ava Ronsky said. “I feel like each game we’re connecting better and just finding ways to get forward more often, so it’s frustrating, but it has been better than what we’ve been playing in the past.”
Bishop said, “For us, it’s all about building, trying to get ourselves ready for the conference play that starts in a week and a half.”
“The plan is to compete for a conference championship, and I think we’ve got a team that can do that,” he said. “Disappointed right now for not putting the ball in the net, but I think we can once one goes in, then we’re really going to get a lot of them.”
The Bears are set for a rematch against the Arkansas State Red Wolves on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m.