UTSA going to Miami to face FIU
MIAMI – The UTSA soccer team concludes its second Florida trip of the season, facing Florida International on Sunday at 10 a.m. (CT) at FIU Soccer Stadium. Due to schedule conflicts, FAU will not be streaming the match. Fans can follow the match on the stats link that linked in the story and on the schedule page.
The Roadrunners have collected four points towards the Conference USA standings thus far, going 1-1-1 through the first three conference matches of the season. On Thursday, UTSA and Florida Atlantic battled to a 1-1 draw to sit at 6-2-2 overall.
The Roadrunners and Owls played to a 0-0 draw through the first half, as FAU outshot UTSA by five shots to two shots. In the second half, the Owls took a 1-0 lead in the 54th minute. Kiran Singh scored the equalizer for the Roadrunners in the 87th minute to lead UTSA to a 1-1 draw with FAU.
LEADING THE ROADRUNNERS
The Roadrunners are ranked No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches’ South Region rankings, announced the organization on Tuesday. Nationally, UTSA ranks in the top-30 in three different categories, including 19th in assists per game (2.60), 10th in total assists (26), and 25th in total points (70).
The team is second in the Conference USA with 167 shots, 70 points, 22 goals and 26 assists. The Roadrunners are tied with Western Kentucky for the least goals allowed (seven) in the conference through their first ten matches. As a team, the Roadrunners have outshot their opponents by 167 shots to 67 shots through the season so far.
Singh leads the team with 23 shots (seven on goal) and eleven points (three goals and five assists), starting in all 10 matches. In the nation, Singh has the 43rd-most assists per game (0.62) and 23rd-most total assists. Preseason Conference Team selection Anna Sutter trails her with nine points, consisting of three goals and three assists.
Sasjah Dade was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 30. Although she is a defender by trade, Dade has contributed greatly on offense as she has seven points consisting of three goals and one assist. She is 45th in the nation and second in the conference with two game-winning goals. Defensively, she has an impressive 77 percent of defensive challenges won and 83 percent successful tackles.
The defensive line of Dade, Deja Sandoval, Kloza and Sabrina Hillyer have played integral roles in the Roadrunners only allowing a conference-best seven goals and recording four shutouts through the first 10 matches, accounting for 3,211 minutes combined.
SERIES HISTORY
In the all-time series, UTSA holds a 1-3 record against the Florida International Panthers. The teams last played each other on Oct. 22, 2017, when the Roadrunners took a 4-2 win over the Panthers in Miami. Then-freshman Isa Hernandez played 21 minutes off the bench in the last matchup.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
FIU is coming off a 1-0 loss to UAB on Sept. 22 and have not won a match in conference (0-2-1 in C-USA play). Overall, the Panthers hold a 2-5-1 record this season. Florida International was chosen to finish 10th out of 11 teams in the C-USA, according to the conference preseason coaches poll.
Noemi Paquin leads the Panthers with 18 shots (10 on net). Nikole Solis holds the most points with 10 points consisting of five goals. Goalkeeper Ithaisa Vinoly has started all eight matches for FIU, notching 28 saves and allowing 13 goals in 713:35 minutes played.
UP NEXT: The Roadrunners return to the Lone Star State next weekend, heading to Houston to take on the Cougars on Oct. 2. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Carl Lewis International Complex.
– UTSA –
