As UTSA soccer heads into its final game of the season, the Roadrunners sit ninth in the American Athletic Conference. They will compete against Florida Atlantic University on Thursday for the ninth time in program history.
History
In the nine games UTSA has played against Florida Atlantic; the two teams are currently at 2-2-4 in matchups. The first game the programs had was on Sept. 27, 2013, and ended in a 0-0 draw. The latest game, held on Oct. 13, 2023, once again ended in a 0-0 draw. The Roadrunners are coming into this game looking to rebound after a 1-0 loss in their battle with the University of South Florida. The Owls are also recovering from a 2-0 loss to East Carolina University.
UTSA
The ‘Runners are hopeful about winning the last game of their season. If the University of Memphis beats the University of Tulsa, UTSA, depending on how many points they score, has a chance of moving up into the AAC Championship. They currently have a record of (7-7-3, 2-5-2 AAC). Coach Derek Pittman said that they aren’t trying to do anything different, they’re just trying to be better at what they do.
“Do simple better,” Pittman said.
He went on to say, “Being clean and sharp during set pieces, being difficult to break down defensively and being ruthless when going in for the attack” is a part of their identity. The ‘Runners are looking ahead, not back. They’ve battled through injuries to their defense and offense and despite not getting the results they’ve wanted, they’ve shown that the team can be great.
The Roadrunners have averaged 1.12 goals per game throughout the season. The team has also averaged 14.2 shots per game. Freshman forward Addy Johnson is currently the leading goal scorer for the ‘Runners with four this year.
Florida Atlantic
The Owls and the ‘Runners have played similar seasons in terms of results. Florida Atlantic’s record is (3-10-4, 2-5-2 AAC) and are No.10 in the AAC, just behind UTSA. The Owls are going to be a tough opponent as they’ve registered nine different goal scorers this season. Their goalkeeper, Lexi Gonzalez, is ranked No.9 in their history with 155 saves. Last year they made it to the semifinals in the conference. Florida Atlantic has averaged 0.82 for goals per game and 8.4 shots per game.
Predictions
The Halloween game won’t be short of interesting and entertaining moments. Both teams are in a must win situation in order to heighten their chances of getting into the top eight in the AAC. “You get what you earn,” Pittman said. The Roadrunners will need to take calculated risks to be victorious against an Owls team who is just as ambitious as they are. There is no room for mistakes. With the way UTSA has been playing all season, they have a good chance at beating the Owls.
Paisano pick: UTSA 2, Florida Atlantic 0
