The I-35 rivalry game between UTSA and Texas State resulted in the Roadrunners first 1-0 loss of the season at Bobcat Soccer Complex on Thursday night.
After maintaining ball control for the first 10 minutes, the ‘Runners (2-1) struggled to break through midfield to the Bobcats’ (1-1) attacking third. More than 60% of the first half was played within the midfield area by both teams, but UTSA worked overtime for the first time this season to defend their own goal area.
Sophomore goalkeeper, Jasmine Kessler, was able to save a shot made by Texas State sophomore forward, Halle Garcia, early in the game but was later scored on by junior forward Mady Soumare at the 18-minute mark. Soumare solidified the Bobcats’ lead over UTSA and continued their winning streak at home as the Bobcats have remained undefeated on their home turf for their previous six games.
This was the first I-35 rivalry match that Texas State has hosted since 2018. The past three matchups have all resulted in a 1-0 win by both teams: two for the Bobcats and one win for the Roadrunners ahead of tonight’s game.
Despite this loss, UTSA didn’t lose sight of their goal to execute set pieces throughout the match, a goal that many coaches have, but are not always able to achieve. Coming from their first season in the American Athletic Conference, coach Derek Pittman and the team left the 2023 season with a 50% success rate of set pieces made from corner kicks.
“We take winning every game seriously, and these players that we’ve brought in here and that continue to develop in our system are winners,” Pittman said. “Anytime we drop a game, regardless of the circumstances, it hurts, but I’m extremely proud of the character and the grit and the toughness that they showed. I thought we were the better team from whistle to whistle. I thought our players were absolutely brilliant tonight, and that’s what we’re going to take from this, is that we can do it even against the most difficult circumstances. Our attitude and effort and our overall toughness tonight was exactly what we wanted from the character of our players. So I’m very, very proud of them,” Pittman said.
The Roadrunners will be back home to face St. Mary’s at 7pm Sunday at Park West.
