RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's soccer team earned their first win of the season, 4-0, against the Prairie View A&M (PVAMU) Panthers.
This was the first win for head women's soccer coach Nataki Stewart at the NCAA DI level. Junior Isabella Burtini led the way with a career-high two goals and career-high tying one assist on her way to a career-high five total points.
Also scoring for the Vaqueros (1-2-0) was junior Sienna Gillespie, knocking in her first NCAA DI goal with sophomore Amy Romero notching her first career assist.
The final goal of the match was scored by junior Erika Parker, the first of her career.
The matchup started off slow as both defenses didn't not hold back in the midfield. UTRGV gained traction by being aggressive and seeking opportunity to score.
Burtini started the offensive showing by attacking and being at the right place at the right time. Burtini pushed the left wing and carved her way into the box. She took a shot that was deflected off PVAMU's Nenah Jackson, goalkeeper for the Panthers, Burtini gathered and fired a strike off the ricochet that connected to put UTRGV up 1-0 in the 26th minute.
Burtini added her third goal of the young season, second of the night, by intercepting a pass from the goalkeeper and turning defense into offense by finding the back of the net in the 31st minute.
UTRGV had a pair of firsts as Gillespie scored her first goal as a Vaquero in the 34th minute, coming off an assist from Romero, her first for UTRGV, to put the Vaqueros up 3-0.
Parker recorded her first goal of the year by booting a long ball from 30 yards beyond the box in the 55thminute. The midfielder found the loose ball and took advantage with a powerful strike to extend the lead for UTRGV 4-0.
Junior Veronica Pacione made her first start of the season and defended well as she tallied three saves. She played 72 minutes and was later subbed off for sophomore Mariana Amezcua.
UTRGV outshot PVAMU (0-2-0) 15-7 with a 9-3 shot on goal advantage. The Vaqueros took four corners versus one for the Panthers.
The Vaqueros hit the road next week to face the Tarleton Texans at the Tarleton State Soccer Complex on Thursday, Aug. 27, which is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
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