UTB-TSC women's soccer team records first win of season
The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College women's soccer team captured its first victory of the season with a 2-0 triumph over the University of Houston-Victoria on Sunday at REK Center FIeld.
The Scorpions (1-0-1) were coming off Saturday's 1-1 overtime tie with William Carey University of Mississippi, the NAIA's ninth-ranked team.
Sunday's match completed play in the three-day, three-team Scorpion Soccer Classic, which began on Friday when William Carey defeated UH-Victoria 5-0 at REK Center Field. UH-Victoria (0-2) is playing its first season of soccer and has several players from the Rio Grande Valley on the rosters of its men's and women's teams.
"It was real good (to win)," UTB-TSC forward-midfielder Linette Cuvillier said. "We played as a team today, and we did yesterday (against William Carey), too. To get a win showed a lot from everybody and how hard we've been working."
Verena Wonsikowski tallied both of the Scorpions' goals. Her first score came during the 73rd minute from close range on an assist from Jodie Hunter. The second goal resulted from a corner kick taken from the right side by Chelsea Maidment. The ball came to Wonsikowski near the left post and she headed it in for a 2-0 lead during the 82nd minute.
"It took us a while to get there (and win), but however it comes, we'll take it," UTB-TSC women's soccer coach Nikola "Nik" Barjaktarevic said. "We had plenty of good opportunities to finish, and we were able to get our first win of the season. We had a good effort against William Carey on Saturday, too, and it wouldn't have meant that much if we hadn't won this game. We found a way to win, so that was good."
The Scorpions finished with a 12-0 edge in shots on goal. UTB-TSC goalkeepers Emily Michna and Stephanie Reid each played a half to help record the shutout. UH-Victoria goalkeeper Sarah Saldivar finished with 10 saves.
The Scorpions now play their next six matches on the road in September, beginning Friday with a 7 p.m. contest at Lamar University. They won't return home until Oct. 2 when they start Red River Athletic Conference action against Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio.
Roy Hess writes for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him via e-mail at rhess@brownsvilleherald.com
