Saturday’s match rescheduled for Thursday evening
A late free-kick goal secures three points for Seattle U (1-2-1, 1-0-1) in a 1-0 victory over UTRGV women’s soccer (3-1-2, 0-1-1) earlier today at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
The first 45 minutes of the game was an even affair as neither team could find the back of the net as the Vaqueros outshot the Redhawks 5-3 and 1-0 on goal.
The lone opportunity took place in the closing moments of the first half as UTRGV freshman defender Georgina Hernandez took a shot from outside the box that was saved by Seattle U sophomore goalkeeper Madison Waguespack.
Out of the break, the Redhawks applied constant pressure on the backline of the Vaqueros as they took four shots in the first 11 minutes.
The Vaqueros would respond with a flurry of shots of their own as junior forward Emily Zapata and freshman forward Anna Frida Groedem took shots that were saved by Waguespack.
In the 80th minute, a free-kick was awarded to Seattle U after a strong tackle from UTRGV junior midfielder Anna Barkey warranted a whistle from the official.
Redhawks junior defender Natalie Dixon stepped up and took the free-kick that went over the outstretched arm of Vaqueros sophomore goalkeeper Maile Lunardi and bounced off the far post for a screamer of a goal.
The Vaqueros would have an opportunity to even the score in the 85th minute after Zapata earned a penalty kick.
UTRGV senior midfielder Gina Steiner, who had converted 2-2 PKs on the season, stepped up and fired a low shot to the left side of the goal but Waguespack dove and kept the lead intact for Seattle U.
The Redhawks in the second half would outshoot the Vaqueros 11-4 and 2-3 on goal.
In a postgame news conference via Zoom, UTRGV Head Coach Glad Bugariu shared his thoughts on the final result.
“Overall, pleased with the performance, disappointed with the result. But, in the end, credit to Seattle [U],” Bugariu. “I thought they had a lot of energy late going into the game and that was really the turning point in the end.”
The next game for the UTRGV women’s soccer was originally scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday against Chicago State but has been moved up to 6 p.m. Thursday, according to a news release from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Monday evening.
Bugariu highlighted the importance of bouncing back against the Cougars.
“We need a response; the team has been told very clearly that a response is necessary after every loss,” he said. “We want to show that we can bounce back, we want to show that it’s just part of the game and ultimately we need to win home games and we need that first home victory which we haven’t had this season.”
Thursday’s match will be open to the public, with limited capacity, and streamed live at the WAC Digital Network at wacdigitalnetwork.com.
Twitter: @Radio_Rubio
