210 GAMEDAY

Bri Carrigan’s goal on Sunday brought a dramatic and victorious end to a historic week for UTSA women’s soccer.

Carrigan scored in the 9th minute of overtime – the 99th minute of the game – to give UTSA a sudden-death victory over Rice in the American Conference tournament title game.

The victory gives UTSA a berth in the NCAA Tournament – their first since 2022 when the Roadrunners were in Conference USA.

The NCAA Tournament bracket is scheduled to be announced tomorrow (Monday) at 3 p.m. Central time.

The Roadrunners’ victory over Rice came just three days after UTSA gutted out a semifinal victory over No. 3-ranked Memphis that went through regulation, two 10-minute overtimes and ended in penalty kicks.

Carrigan is a redshirt freshman from Memorial High School in Tomball, Texas. Sunday’s game-winning overtime goal was her first goal of the season.

UTSA goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler, a junior from Spring Texas, recorded her school-record 16th career shutout.

All-tournament: UTSA’s Brooklyn Bailey, Bri Carrigan, Aaliyaiah Durden, Jasmine Kessler and Zoe May were named to the American Conference women’s soccer all-tournament team.

No. 5 seed UTSA stunned No. 1 seed and previously undefeated Memphis on Thursday to advance to the title game of the American Athletic Conference women’s soccer tournament at Lakewood Ranch, Florida.

The game was tied 3-3 after regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods and was decided by penalty kicks.

UTSA outscored Memphis 3-1 in penalty kicks. Roadrunners goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler made a save on Memphis’ last penalty kick to close out the victory. Kessler, Zoe May and Bri Carrigan all converted their penalty kicks for UTSA.

The Roadrunners, who lost three straight games late in the season, have now won three in a row and are 10-5-5 on the season.

UTSA plays Rice in the title game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Memphis allowed more than two goals for the first time all season. The Tigers, ranked No. 3 in the country, fell to 16-1-2.

UTSA’s Brooklyn Bailey and Aaliyaiah Durden both scored in the last five minutes of regulation as the Roadrunners made a frantic comeback to tie it 3-3 after Memphis took a 3-1 lead.

The Roadrunners’ May scored the first goal of the game in the first half off an assist from Michelle Polo. It was May’s team-high sixth goal of the season.

Memphis scored later in the first half and twice in the second half to take a 3-1 lead.

Bailey scored in the 86th minute to cut the Memphis lead to 3-2. It was Bailey’s second goal of the season.

Durden scored in the 88th minute with her fourth goal of the season off Polo’s second assist of the game.

UTSA defender Aaliyaiah Durden moved up the length of the field to score a key goal in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference women’s soccer tournament.

Michelle Polo and Durden did the scoring in No. 5 seed UTSA’s 2-1 victory over No. 4 seed UAB at Lakewood Ranch, Florida.

The Roadrunners improved to 9-5-5 on the season. They advance to Thursday’s 6 p.m. (Central) semifinal against Memphis. No. 1 seed Memphis beat No. 8 seed East Carolina 1-0 to advance.

Polo’s first-half goal came in the 31st minute. Bri Carrigan and Ava Jackson had the assists.

Durden’s second-half goal came in the 57th minute and made it 2-0. She set up by the far post to head in a free kick from Leah Varela.

UAB’s Lailah Stewart scored in the 79th minute cut UTSA’s lead to a goal.

UTSA goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler, the Roadrunners’ career leader in starts in goal, helped hold off UAB with four saves.

UTSA women’s soccer will be the No. 5 seed in the American Athletic Conference tournament next week in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.

UTSA faces No. 4 seed UAB on Monday, Nov. 3. Game time is 5 p.m. Eastern – 4 p.m. Central. TV is ESPN+.

The UTSA-UAB winner gets the winner of No. 1 Memphis vs. No. 8 East Carolina in the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. Eastern – 6 p.m. Central. TV is ESPN+.

The AAC tournament championship game is Sunday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m. Eastern – 1 p.m. Central. TV is ESPN-U.

UTSA women’s soccer lost to East Carolina 2-1 on Sunday at Park West.

After the game, the Roadrunners honored seniors Haley Lopez, Zoe may, Rylee Miller, Michelle Polo and Izzy May.

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Michelle Polo scored UTSA’s goal;
Roadrunners clinch postseason berth

Michelle Polo scored in the 85th minute off a free-kick pass from Izzy Lane.

UTSA (7-5-5 overall, 3-3-3 conference) wraps up the regular season with a road game against Temple on Thursday.

The American Athletic Conference tournament is Nov. 3-9 in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. The Roadrunners have clinched a spot in the tournament by virtue of the results of Sunday’s other conference games.

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