Women’s Soccer Battles McNeese to Third Consecutive Draw in Southland Play

When time ran out on the Southland Conference (SLC) match between The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s soccer team and the McNeese Cowgirls on Sunday, players from both teams dropped to all fours on the pitch of the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.

The squads battled in a physical, up-tempo contest that ended in a 2-2 draw. The student-athletes were visibly spent as they gave all they had to the final whistle.

UTRGV (4-3-4, 0-0-3 SLC) used an early offensive flurry to take a 2-0 lead. Freshman midfielder Rubi Ortiz scored her first collegiate goal – and the Vaqueros’ first SLC goal – in the 12^th minute to capitalize on a series of corner kicks. UTRGV’s tireless offensive effort resulted in three consecutive corners, and the third was the charm as the ball was sent out of traffic to the top of the box, where Ortiz delivered a strike into the net.

Eighty seconds later, UTRGV extended its lead to 2-1. Sophomore defender Bianca Butler converted on the fourth corner of the first half in the 13^th minute after a good feed from sophomore defender Rosie Train. 

The Cowgirls (3-8-1, 0-2-0 SLC) picked up their offensive effort after falling behind, but UTRGV’s defense did well to block or deflect would-be chances and maintain the lead. McNeese got on the board in the 24^th minute on a goal from Dom Ducal.

Both teams played fast and physical throughout the first half. McNeese took more shots in the first 45 minutes, 6-3, but freshman goalkeeper Heiddis Sigurdardottir made two saves to keep the Vaqueros on top at the break.

UTRGV was the aggressor on offense in the second half and took four shots in a three-minute span early in the frame. Freshman forward Lisa Elowsson and sophomore midfielder Linnea Eld were among the Vaqueros pushing the offense and peppering McNeese goalkeeper Jackie Kelly with shots. Kelly made three saves to keep the Vaqueos off the board. The Cowgirls evened the match in the 62^nd minute on a goal from Isabelle Smith. 

Freshman goalkeeper Kamila Aguilar took over in net for UTRGV with the contest knotted up and made a save on the first shot she faced in the 72^nd minute. Sophomore midfielder Ayloni Garcia, a local product from Mission, also came off the bench and brought great energy to the pitch, contributing to a shot on goal for Elowsson in the 72^nd minute and helping to spark UTRGV’s offense.

Senior defenders Libby Beilfuss and Abbie Bailey led an admirable defensive effort for the Vaqueros. Ortiz generated some late momentum and took a shot with three seconds remaining in the contest, but it missed left.

The Vaqueros outshot the Cowgirls 10-5 in the second half and earned nine corners to McNeese’s four in the match. Ortiz and Elowsson both took three shots and put two on goal. Sigurdardottir finished with two saves and Aguilar had one. Kelly made three saves for McNeese.

UTRGV’s next SLC match is Thursday at 6:30 p.m. against Houston Christian at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex. Attendance is free but fans will need a digital pass to gain entrance. Fans can sign up for the UTRGV Soccer Pass at GoUTRGV.com/SoccerPass. A clear bag policy is in place at the facility.