The Roadrunners ended their season with a 2-1 win against Florida Atlantic University. Unfortunately, due to the University of Memphis and the University of Temple tying 1-1 at their final game, UTSA finished ninth in the American Athletic Conference — making them ineligible for the tournament. Despite this, the ‘Runners displayed grit, strength and perseverance throughout their season.
The ‘Runners focused on, “Doing the simple things better,” said coach Derek Pittman. With the work of players like freshman forward Addy Johnson who scored four goals this season, their classic 2-5-2 formation and 21-255 on average goal shot attempts were a few of the reasons why the ‘Runners won nine of their 20 games.
Pittman said that “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 team’s two best games were against the Central Christian College of Kansas and Temple where they won both games 3-0. The contest against the Owls notably landed on the ‘Runners’ senior day, showcasing how coordinated they could be with their set pieces and attacks.
The Owls’ forwards could not combat the aggression the Roadrunners brought each game as the ‘Runners dominated in shot attempts 21-4. Johnson, senior midfielder Olvia Alvarez and sophomore midfielder Sophie Morrin all scored one goal as they continued to fight up and down the pitch. The Bears’ defense failed to step up and stop the Roadrunners as Johnson scored twice and senior defender Sasjah Dade scored once, helping secure another win.
“We need to be aggressive, we need to be organized in how we defend to limit other teams’ chances,” Pittman said.
The Roadrunners’ season did not come without struggle as they failed to secure key wins that would have helped them make it to the conference tournament. They tied three games and lost eight. The ‘Runners were 2-4-2 in away games and 5-3-1 at home.
Despite the Roadrunners falling short of conference play, their season was a testament to their resilience and determination. Setbacks and missed opportunities didn’t stop the team from showing their potential through impressive performances, especially in important games like their 3-0 against Temple. With standout performances and performers like Johnson, the team is starting their transition period strong as they say goodbye to seven seniors who showed constant talent and leadership as they pass the torch. Even though the season didn’t end with a conference title, the growth and aggression throughout the season will undoubtedly fuel their appetite for success in 2025.
