210GAMEDAY.COM | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Varela scored her third goal of the season as UTSA beat Temple 1-0 in American Conference women’s soccer action at Park West.
UTSA honored three seniors including record-setting goaltender Jasmine Kessler, who recorded her 29th career win and 19th shutout. Defenders Kameron Kloza and Taliyah Spain were also honored.
The Roadrunners will celebrate senior day and honor goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler, defender Kameron Kloza and defender Taliyah Spain.
– Jasmine Kessler, from Spring, Texas, holds just about every UTSA record relating to goalkeeping. In four seasons with the Roadrunners she has 28 wins, 18 shutouts and 241 saves. Kessler recorded a shutout in UTSA’s 1-0 victory over Rice in the championship game of the 2025 American Conference tournament – a victory that sent the Roadrunners to the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
– Kameron Kloza, from Lee High School in San Antonio, was All-Region first team and American All-Conference first team in 2025. She played in two seasons at UTSA after transferring from Texas Tech, starting in 35 games for the Roadrunners and recording three goals and two assists.
– Taliyah Spain, from Dripping Springs, Texas, transferred to UTSA from Arkansas. She played in 12 games and made eight starts for UTSA in 2025.
UTSA takes a 6-4-5 season record in 2-3-2 American Conference record into Sunday’s meeting with Temple. Temple is 10-4-2 on the season and 3-2-2 in conference. The Owls have won three of their last four games.
The Roadrunners (7-3-4 overall, 2-2-2 in American Conference) are 2-0-1 on their last three games. UTSA next plays on the road Thursday, Oct. 22, against Memphis. The Roadrunners are back home at Park West on Sunday, Oct. 25, against Temple.
Tulsa took a 1-0 lead in the first half on a goal by Brooklyn Bumgardner with the 42nd minute.
UTSA gained a 11-on-10 advantage in the second half in the 68th minute when Tulsa’s Addison Castleberry was given a red card. Varela’s second goal of the season came in the 70th minute.
Sofia Peters scored the first goal on a long line-drive kick. It was her third goal of the season. Sadie Paul got the assist.
Caroline Pelkofski scored the second goal on a break with Isabel Peters recording the assist. It was Pelkofski’s first goal of the season
UAB’s goal came on a second-half penalty kick by Lauren Lucero.
Jasmine Kessler played the whole game in goal for UTSA and made six assists to earn the win.
UTSA, which has won two straight American Conference games, is 6-3-4 on the season and 2-2-1 in conference. The Roadrunners are back at home on Thursday night at 7 p.m. against Tulsa.
UTSA women’s soccer had a big scoring night on Thursday to capture its first American Conference victory of the season.
UTSA beat South Florida 3-0 and also recorded the program’s first victory on South Florida’s home field.
The Roadrunners (4-3-4 overall, 1-2-1 conference) had scored only one goal in their four previous games combined. They play their next game at home at Park West on Sunday at 1 p.m. against UAB.
Addi O’Kelley got UTSA off to a fast start with a goal in the 2nd minute. It was her second goal of the season. Kacey Grahmann crossed the ball from the left side to Ava Jackson in front of the goal, who touched it out to O’Kelley.
Sadie Paul made it 2-0 with her second goal of the season. Leah Varela set it up on a corner kick in the 64th minute. It was the team-high ninth assist of the season for Varela.
Sabrina Taber scored the final goal of the night in the 80th minute. It was Taber’s first goal of the season.
UTSA goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler made four saves and picked up her second shutout of the season.
The Roadrunners are 0-3-1 in their last four games and have scored only one goal in that stretch.
Eileen Albers, Sloane Popov and Lauren Pickup scored for Rice and Owls goalkeeper Kirsten Ruf recorded the shutout.
UTSA is now 0-2-1 in conference and 4-3-4 on the season.
The Roadrunners continue conference play on Thursday in Tampa against South Florida (2-5-3, 0-1-2), which lost to Florida Atlantic 3-0 on Thursday.
Rice is 4-5-3 on the season and 2-2-0 in conference.
UTSA lost to two-time NCAA champion Santa Clara 1-0 last week.
“I’m really happy with where we are at this point in time,” UTSA coach Derrick Pittman said in his weekly news conference on ESPN+. “I thought it’s been a really strong stretch of eight games, 10 games if we include the exhibitions.
“I think we’ve learned something as a team each and every time out on the field. I think we’ve continued to improve each and every week. I thought our performance against Santa Clara was really positive – the outcome wasn’t quite what we had hoped.”
UTSA’s (4-1-3) first conference match is on the road against East Carolina on Thursday at 6 p.m. (Central). TV is on ESPN+
The Roadrunners play on the road again Sunday against Charlotte at noon (Central). TV is on ESPN+
“I think the energy and enthusiasm of the group ready to start conference play this week is exciting, refreshing,” Pittman said. “I know our kids are ready to get after it.
“It’s definitely not going to be an easy task going on the road for these two in North Carolina. East Carolina is a very talented group and so is Charlotte. We know we have our hands full and we’ve got to prepare to be our best so we can go out and perform to our best each and every league game.”
UTSA has outscored its opponents 16-9 on the season. Ava Jackson and Brooklyn Bailey lead the Roadrunners with three goals each and Sofia Peters, Dulci Binns and Lilli Denhardt have two each. Leah Varela leads UTSA in points with nine on seven assists and one goal.
Jasmine Kessler has started every game in goal for UTSA and has one shutout.
East Carolina is 1-2-6 on the season (0-1-3 at home, 0-0-1 in conference). The Pirates opened conference play last week with a 1-1 tie on the road against Tulsa. Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram scored East Central’s goal.
Charlotte is 4-4 on the season and 0-1 in conference. The 49ers are coming off a 3-2 road loss to Florida Atlantic in their conference opener. Evie Craven scored both Charlotte goals. Charlotte has a home game Thursday against North Texas before its meeting with UTSA.
The Roadrunners (4-1-3) start conference on Thursday at 6 p.m. against East Carolina in Greenville, N.C.
UTSA follows on Sunday at noon against Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C.
Last season UTSA lost to East Carolina 2-1 at Park West with Michelle Polo scoring UTSA’s goal. UTSA tied Charlotte 1-1 at Park West with Zoe May scoring for UTSA.
The Roadrunners went on to win the 2025 American Conference Tournament and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Kennedy Schoennauer scored the only goal of the night for Santa Clara (4-2-3).
It was the first loss of the season for the Roadrunners (4-1-3), who open American Conference play next week with a Thursday, Sept. 24, road game against East Carolina. UTSA continues the conference road trip on Sunday, Sept. 27, against Charlotte.
