SAN ANTONIO — Behind a second-half brace from sophomore forward Brooklyn Bailey, UTSA women’s soccer defeated the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 2-0 during its first home exhibition game of the season on Sunday at the Park West Athletics Complex.
The Roadrunners’ breakthrough came midway through the second half when Bailey and sophomore forward Ava Jackson showcased a connection that defined the match. Bailey outran her defender and slotted a shot inside the right post. Minutes later, Jackson delivered a perfectly placed corner kick on the right flank that found Bailey in front of goal for her second finish of the match.
“They are a dangerous option up front,” coach Derek Pittman said after the game. “The icing is I can move BB into a number of different places, and Ava is developing and continuing to get better as an attacking player. I know whenever BB’s in the box, she’s always going to have a chance to score.”
UTSA dictated possession through the opening minutes, limiting UTRGV’s time of possession and forcing rushed clearances that frequently sailed out of bounds. Still, the Roadrunners struggled to translate that control into clean looks on goal in the first 25-minute half.
Freshman goalkeeper Jaelyn Bracamonte was sharp early when called upon, making a highlight stop to keep the match scoreless as the Vaqueros searched for momentum. On the other end, junior defender Jazira González produced UTSA’s best chance of the opening half in the 17th minute, driving a shot from the right side that was turned away by Vaqueros goalkeeper Heiddis Sigurdardottir. Two minutes later, sophomore midfielder Emelie Ekman tested Sigurdardottir again from distance, but UTRGV came up with another save to keep it scoreless at the break.
The second half briefly tilted toward the Vaqueros, who applied pressure high up the pitch and forced UTSA into awkward passes inside its own territory. Bracamonte absorbed that stretch calmly, organizing the back line and preventing any serious threat from developing.
The match broke open the moment Bailey hit top gear. After a quick exchange with Jackson near midfield, she accelerated past her marker down the right side, separating with ease before sending a line-drive strike over the goalkeeper for the opening score. UTSA seized control from there, pressing the Vaqueros into uncomfortable touches and taking away any momentum.
Jackson’s individual effort minutes later effectively sealed it. Dribbling down the right flank, she kept the ball in play near the corner before whipping in a service that found Bailey in stride for the second goal. From there, UTSA’s defensive pressure controlled the remainder of the match, allowing few clean looks while continuing to create chances in transition.
“That’s always going to be at the forefront of what we do,” Pittman said. “Being a relentless, organized pressing team is our number one priority, and I thought it was on display today. I think it’s always going to be a staple of our program. We don’t want to give opponents too much time to be dangerous on the ball or get into a rhythm.”
UTSA will next travel to Waco, Texas, to take on Baylor University at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at the Betty Lou Mays Field.
