Texas State and UTSA capture conference women’s soccer titles, earn NCAA Tournament bids

From staff reports

Both UTSA and Texas State punched their tickets to the NCAA Women’s SoccerTournament over the weekend, with both claiming conference championships in dramatic fashion.

Texas State wins Sun Belt title

The Texas State women’s soccer team celebrates after winning the Sun Belt Conference tournament championship and punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. (Photo courtesy of Texas State athletics)

Fourth-seeded Texas State captured its first Sun Belt Conference Women’s Soccer Championship with a 1-0 win over No. 3 seed ULM on Saturday evening at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex.

After a defensive first half, the Bobcats (10-3-7) broke through in the 54th minute when midfielder Matsuri Tsutsui threaded a pass through ULM’s back line to Sadie Guzman, who maneuvered around the goalkeeper and fired home the decisive goal.

Defender Victoria Meza was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer, while Texas State’s Helen Alormenu, Kennley Bradley and goalkeeper Maude Rouanet joined her on the All-Tournament Team.

Texas State will open the 2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup against 5-seed Baylor (12-4-4) at 7 p.m., Friday at Betty Lou Mays Field in Waco. The team’s met on Sept. 7 when the Bears escaped San Marcos, Texas with a 4-1 victory with the help of three second-half scores.

The winner will advance to face the winner between the region’s No. 4 seed Wisconsin (13-5-2) from the Big Ten Conference and Mid-American Conference champion Western Michigan (16-3-1).

Former Liberty Hill goalkeeper Brooklyn Escobar is a freshman for the Bobcats.

UTSA claims first American Athletic Conference crown

*The UTSA women’s soccer team celebrates winning the American Conference championship on Nov. 9, 2025. (Photo courtesy of the American Conference)*

Bri Carrigan’s overtime goal lifted No. 5 seed UTSA to its first American Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship, defeating No. 6 seed Rice 1-0 on Sunday.

Carrigan, named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player, delivered the golden goal in the ninth minute of overtime. Goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler, the Most Outstanding Defensive Player, made five saves to preserve the shutout.

UTSA (10-5-6) outshot Rice 19-13 and earned the American’s automatic NCAA berth. Carrigan, Kessler, Brooklyn Bailey, Aaliyah Durden and Zoe May earned spots on the All-Tournament Team.

The Roadrunners will travel to Lubbock, Texas, to face No. 6 seed Texas Tech (13-2-4) on Friday at 7 p.m. Eastern. The winner will move on to face the winner of North Carolina and No. 3 seed Tennessee in the second round.

Former Cedar Park defender Sofia Peters is a freshman for UTSA.