ODESSA, Texas (September 2, 2026) – The second match of the season for The University of Texas Permian Basin women's soccer team resulted in a slow start for the Falcons and a low-scoring affair, but in the end, UTPB came out on top by a score of 1-0 against Wayland Baptist University.
UTPB (2-0 overall) struggled in the counter-attack early on and found itself mostly limited to its own defensive third while WBU (0-3) led 2-0 in shots at the first hydration break (18th minute).
WBU dominated possession and shot attempts (3-0) until the Pioneers' goalkeeper failed to clear the ball, leading to a shot and a goal about three yards outside the top of the box by
Cassandra Ramirez in the 26th minute. It was Ramirez's fourth goal in two matches to start the season, and was the fourth game-winning goal of her career (one in all four seasons).
In addition, now with 14 career goals, Ramirez stands alone in fourth place on UTPB's list for career goals, and is four away from tying for a spot in the top-three.
UTPB's final three shots of the first half all came from
Isabella Capra, including a dazzling display of moves with the ball to dribble around her defender before missing high in the 34th minute.
Making her first-career start in goal was
Alexia Hernandez, an Odessa, Texas, native who made two saves during her first-half shutout.
Valeria Delgado then kept the combined shutout going with four saves during the second half, but had to work hard to keep her team in the lead.
Mariela Ojeda set the tone for a higher-shot volume from both teams in the second half (9 combined shots in the first half; 15 in the second half), firing a long attempt to test the Pioneer's goalkeeper with a save just three minutes into the period.
As the match went deeper,
Mikaela Corral just missed a scoring opportunity in the 75th minute as she got tangled up with the goalie but was able to get off a wild shot that missed wide left.
Needing a goal to tie the match, WBU picked up the shooting pace in the final 15 minutes, firing five shots in a seven-minute span.
The Pioneers' best chance to score came on their final shot attempt of the night, reining in a free kick and getting off a shot from the middle of the box that was just deflected off the right hand of Delgado for a corner kick. That was just the first of three corner kicks in a row for the Pioneers, who led 9-0 in corner kicks to start the match until the Falcons took their first corner (
Ailene Rodarte) in the final four minutes of the match.
The Pioneers outshot the Falcons by one in each half. UTPB was led by Capra with three shot attempts and Ojeda with two shots on goal.
"It was obviously a very tough night for us," spoke UTPB Head Coach
Garrett Kull. "A lot of credit goes to Wayland. That was a good, experienced group that ran their system well tonight. For us, we have to be better at running ours and controlling the game. You always want to celebrate each win, but this team knows they can fly higher, and I expect that response from them. I feel like we did not come prepared correctly, and it is a good reset for us to know now that we have to maintain a high level of focus even when we experience success. But you look at a group that made the most of a chance and kept the shutout, and even when they did not have a good night, still found a way to win. So in a way, you do walk away proud as a coach that no matter who you play, that we can close out a tight game and get a result."
Next up for the Falcons this weekend will be their third straight home match to open up the 2026 season. It will also be the Falcons' final nonconference match of the season as UTPB hosts New Mexico Highlands University starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 5.
