UTSA grabs first win of season against Colorado College 

SAN ANTONIO — UTSA soccer picked up its first win of the season against Colorado College, 2-0, on Thursday at Park West Athletics Complex. 

The Roadrunners (1-0-2) got out to a fast start, nearly snagging an early lead in the fourth minute. Sophomore midfielder Leah Varela’s corner kick found redshirt freshman forward Sadie Paul at the goal area’s center, and Paul finished the play with her head. The score was called back after the Tigers (2-1) challenged, and it was determined that Paul pushed a defender to create separation. 

UTSA continued its consistent pressure after the disallowed score, resulting in two goals over the course of the match, one from redshirt freshman forward Ava Jackson in the 12th minute and one from Paul in the 57th. The Tigers struggled to create scoring opportunities, managing just one shot on goal over 90 minutes.

“Colorado College is a difficult team to play against,” coach Derek Pittman said after the game. “They don’t make a whole lot of mistakes across the back, and they play a bit direct. We needed to make sure we got good pressure on the ball and try to disrupt their play a little bit.

“I think we did a really good job until the last 10 to 15 minutes of keeping them quiet. We’ve got to look back at the last 20 minutes and see how we can manage to be a little bit better. But I know our kids will learn from it and we’ll get better.” 

Jackson’s scoring opportunity materialized after a shot from sophomore forward Brooklyn Bailey, driving on the right side of the pitch. Colorado College goalie Regan Wallace deflected the shot, but couldn’t collect it before Jackson tapped in the score with her right foot. 

“I think being a striker, you just have to be in the right place at the right time,” Jackson said. “That’s kind of our job. [Bailey] did a great job, and then I just had to be there to get the ball in the back of the net.” 

After the early overturned goal, Paul kept hunting for her first score as a Roadrunner. She found it in the 57th minute, heading in the finish after a series of bounce passes between junior midfielder Sabrina Taber and Jackson, giving UTSA its sixth goal in three games. 

“Obviously, we thought that the first one was a goal,” Paul said. “I guess it was a push behind. They’re going to call anything like that, but it got the energy high. Everyone was excited. It got everyone like, ‘Where’s the next one now?’ 

“Then, [we] came back and I guess ball doesn’t lie. A goal is a goal, and [we] got it again.”

UTSA outshot Colorado College 14-6, and the Roadrunners held the Tigers to just one shot on goal. Bailey led the team in shots with four. 

The Roadrunners will next face St. Mary’s University at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Park West Athletics Complex.