Vaqueros swarm Jackets on senior night

UTRGV scores 4 in second half vs red-hot Howard Payne

The UTRGV Women’s Soccer Team handed the Howard Payne University Yellow Jackets their first loss of the year with a 5-0 rout tonight at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex on the Edinburg campus.

The Vaqueros brought their overall record to 2-2-1 following tonight’s victory. The Jackets, coming into the match outscoring their previous opponents 9-0, drop to 2-1 with the loss.

UTRGV outshot Howard Payne 26-2, being rewarded for both its consistent pressure in and around the box and stingy defense in this match.

After being disconnected prior to netting the opener late in the first half, UTRGV Women’s Soccer head coach Mark Foster said after the game he addressed his team at halftime and told them to play as a group, not as individuals.

The team took the message and played “some of the best soccer we’ve played since I’ve been the coach here,” Foster said about the team’s performance.

Tonight was senior night for the Vaqueros, who were honored in a pregame ceremony.

Redshirt junior winger Savannah Frisby, who is an academic senior, also received honors. She finished the match with a goal and an assist and described tonight’s game as “emotional.”

“As a senior, I have seen this program grow,” Frisby said. “I feel like we’re going in the right direction and I’m really excited for the season and how it’s going to finish up.”

Foster said the team wanted to honor the seniors. 

“I think we did that in the second half with the performance,” he said. 

The Vaqueros started the game by controlling the possession and pace of play and forcing four corner kicks in the first 10 minutes of the match. They finished the game with 12 total corners.

Freshman forward Jordan Matthews, then, found the back of the net in the 31st minute, representing the first conceded by the Jackets this season. Freshman forward Krystin Moore was credited with the assist.

After a couple of more chances generated by the Vaqueros, the first half ended with a 1-0 UTRGV lead.

UTRGV began the second half the same way as the first, by applying pressure to Howard Payne’s box.

A handball violation by the Jackets in the 51st minute sent senior defender Abbie Bailey to the spot. She buried her penalty kick into the net to double the Vaqueros’ lead 2-0.

Less than a minute later, freshman forward Lisa Elowsson received a pass from senior defender Libby Beilfuss, sending it to the back of the net to extend their lead to 3-0.

The Vaqueros continued the avalanche late in the second half, with junior forward Olivia Trotter scoring a goal in the 74th and Frisby in the 77th. 

Frisby assisted Trotter’s goal and scored her goal unassisted. The Vaqueros continued their stranglehold over the match, ending in a 5-0 victory for UTRGV.

The Vaqueros’ next match is at home noon Sunday against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions (1-2-1). Admission is free.