LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – What the UTSA soccer team (9-5-6) accomplished in Thursday night’s American Conference semifinal was nothing short of historic. The Roadrunners rallied from a two-goal deficit created in the final 10 minutes to not only force overtime against third-ranked American Regular Season Champion Memphis, but went on to advance past the Tigers 3-1 on penalty kicks to reach the program’s first conference final since joining the American.
It was also nothing short of gridlock as the teams traded chances and stops throughout a tense first half, broken up in the 32nd minute by former Memphis Tiger Zoё May. The senior UTSA midfielder pushed the Roadrunners on top with a second effort for her third putback goal of the year after Abby Kudla saved Michelle Polo’s free kick from the top of the box. The goal left the Tigers trailing for only the third time on the season.
However, the Tigers didn’t stay settled for long, with Alex Mackay knotting the score just over three minutes later in the run of play, setting up a 1-1 halftime draw. The Tigers outshot the Roadrunners 7-3 in the opening half, but UTSA was creating a constant state of pressure for the regular season champs.
The back lines and goalkeepers on each side stood their ground deep into the second half. Then the Tigers broke free, with Ally Casey and Elise Perron scoring back-to-back Memphis goals in a span of just under five minutes to put UTSA into a 3-1 hole heading into the 86th minute.
This is where the grit and determination the Roadrunners have relied on all season came to the surface. Just 71 seconds later redshirt sophomore defender Aaliyaiah Durden pushed the ball ahead from midfield to freshman forward Brooklyn Bailey, who crossed-up the Memphis defenders with Kudla, sidestepping the defense for a wide-open goal in the 86th minute.
The Roadrunners struck again quickly off Polo’s free kick in the 88th minute, with Durden putting a perfect header on the ricochet for the equalizer into the left side of the net.
With the game tied at 3-3, the Roadrunners stunned the Tigers with their most goals surrendered more than a single goal for the first time since Aug. 17 against Ole Miss. And that sent the game to overtime, where neither team finished on chances and lined up the second penalty kick finish of the night.
American Offensive Player of the Year Ashley Henderson helped UTSA set the wheels in motion, sending the first Memphis PK high over the cage, but goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler didn’t waiver as she blasted the first UTSA shot past Kudla. May followed and Bri Carrigan delivered a third. For the Tigers, only Ai Kitagawa made a penalty kick and the Roadrunners earned the advance as Kessler batted away Casey’s shot for the 3-1 shootout win.
The Roadrunners delivered the most shots (13) and shots on goal (8) against the Tigers this season – a nationally ranked team that had no defeats and listed with the best goals-against-average in the NCAA (0.33). Addi O’Kelley topped UTSA with three shots, while Bailey, Durden and Leah Varela each had two.
Kessler finished with six saves on the books and the biggest stop in program history on the final PK.
Goals
UTSA: Zoë May (32’), Brooklyn Bailey (86’) Aaliyaiah Durden (88’)
PK (3) – Kessler-Y, May-Y, Carrigan-Y
MEM: Alex Mackay (35’), Ally Casey (80’), Elise Perron (85’)
PK (1) – Henderson-N, Kitagawa-Y, Lavin-N, Casey-N
Quoting Coach Derek Pittman
“What an unbelievable show of heart and belief from this group. Being down 3-1 with five minutes to play against one of the best teams in the country, they never quit. They trusted each other, stayed composed and found a way to fight back. To equalize late, push through overtime, and then win it in penalties says everything about the character and resilience of this team. I couldn’t be prouder of their effort and the spirit they showed tonight.”
UP NEXT: Set to face off with sixth-seed Rice (which defeated South Florida 6-5 on penalty kicks), the fifth-seed Roadrunners have made the conference final of their first appearance in the American Conference Championships. The Owls and Roadrunners will square off for the title on Sunday, Nov. 9 with a 1 p.m. CT kickoff at Premier Sports Campus.
- UTSA -