The message from UTSA women’s soccer coach Derek Pittman has been consistent and constant. He often speaks to his team about “staying in the moment.”

Winning, Pittman surmised, isn’t easy at this level and should be enjoyed at every opportunity. Losing, while not preferred, can be beneficial if it provides a learning moment.

Which leads to what transpired vs. Texas Southern on Thursday. The Roadrunners didn’t win or lose the contest, but in some ways it felt as if they did a bit of each.

In a match delayed for 90 minutes because of lightning, UTSA and Texas Southern played to a 1-1 draw in a non-conference encounter at Park West Complex. The Roadrunners (2-0-3) had two goals erased because of offsides, including one only 39 seconds into the game, struggled with their finishing on offense and suffered a late defensive breakdown in the final five minutes that yielded a tying goal.

“It’s just frustrating,” Pittman said of the outcome of a game that was supposed to start at 7:30 p.m., kicked off at 9:10 p.m. and concluded at 11 p.m. “I thought we dominated in possession. We did a really good job of shutting them down and not allowing them to get into a real good rhythm. There’s a lot of really good stuff to take away.”

One aspect that wasn’t a highlight was UTSA’s inability to capitalize on prime scoring opportunities. Besides the two goals that were disallowed because of offsides, the defending American Athletic Conference champion Roadrunners had at least four one-on-one scoring chances where the attempt either was hit wide, high or directly to Texas Southern goalkeeper Alicia Audu.

“Tonight, we weren’t good enough,” Pittman said. “And we weren’t good enough in front of goal.”

Despite the missed chances, UTSA appeared as if it would come away victorious. Sophomore Brooklyn Bailey scored in the 61st minute when she ran onto consecutive passes from teammates Ava Jackson and Caroline Pelkofski and slotted a shot that hit off the inside of the left post and redirected into the net.

With UTSA unable to add a cushion to its lead, the Tigers made the most of their best chance when Ava Coverdale scored in the 85th minute when the Roadrunners were unable to clear away a ball from inside their penalty area.

“If you let a team like that hang around, all they need is one little inch — and they found it,” Pittman said.

It is space that UTSA can’t concede much longer as the start of conference play draws nearer.

“I’m glad it’s happening early in the season before conference,” UTSA redshirt sophomore midfielder Leah Varela said of squandered scoring chances and the defensive lapse. “I’m kind of glad Texas Southern came in and almost punched us, in a way, in the mouth a bit. We didn’t lose. We tied.”

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