Vaqueros prepare for Southland play
The UTRGV Women’s Soccer Team, after a 4-3-1 start to its campaign, is looking to carry some of the positives from early season success into its conference schedule.
The Vaqueros’ start includes a streak of four-straight clean sheets against non-conference opponents, with final scores of 1-0 (vs. Southern University), 5-0 (vs. Howard Payne University), 3-0 (vs. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) and 4-0 (vs. Prairie View A&M University). That streak ended with a 4-0 loss against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
UTRGV Women’s Soccer head coach Mark Foster said he was “delighted” with the preconference schedule, alluding to its crucial role in the team’s growth.
“It’s been great for us,” Foster said. “It’s left us in a place where we feel ready and really excited for a new year and the start of the Southland [Conference].”
While employing a similar system to the one they used last season, the Vaqueros look like a different team. Last season, they went 2-5-3 in non-conference and 3-10-4 overall.
Asked what changed, Foster replied the team is not only playing better, but is also more united.
“Every year is different; every team is different,” he said. “[This year], we’re very together, on and off the field. We’re very hungry. We look to be enjoying ourselves more, and the simple part of it is we’re playing better soccer.”
Vaqueros junior winger Savannah Frisby said the team was “locked in” and ready to compete this season.
“We’re excited about the tactics and we’re excited to win, and everybody just has the same mindset,” Frisby said. “And so, the culture’s been really good about that.”
Abbie Bailey, Vaqueros senior center back, said the team was “doing really well” this season.
“We have competed a lot more than we did last year already,” Bailey said. “That’s a great sign, and I feel as if we’re gonna go really far this year.”
One thing that changed this season was the Vaqueros’ aggressiveness on attack. During non-conference play, they scored 14 goals in eight matches.
Frisby said UTRGV’s attack played better and utilized space more effectively during non-conference.
“We have been attacking the wide spaces a lot more effectively,” she said. “I feel like we’ve been having a lot of combinations through those areas along with the midfield. We get into the box, and we’re scoring a lot more.”
The Vaqueros have also looked good on defense: Of all players on the roster, UTRGV defenders have played more minutes than other players, according to Foster.
“I think we have a set structure [on defense] now,” Bailey said. “I think we know what’s expected of us.”
Foster said the team’s success on defense and attack resulted from a cumulative team effort, replying that “it says a lot about the team” and its balance.
“For me, we’re a more balanced team this year,” he said. “We look like we’re able to attack but then we lose the ball. We look quite solid without the ball. I think that’s a balance of everybody buying into that team effort.”
The Vaqueros began their conference schedule at noon Sunday against Texas A&M University Commerce at home. As of press time, results from the match were unavailable.
The Vaqueros will go on the road to play Lamar University at 7 p.m. Thursday in Beaumont, Texas.
Vaqueros senior defender Abbie Bailey fights for possession of the ball against Yellow Jackets sophomore forward Madelynn Harry during a match Sept. 6 at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex on the Edinburg campus. THE RIDER FILE PHOTO
