North Texas Defeats UTSA in Hedlund's Final Home Game
North Texas snapped an eight-match winless streak with a 2-1 win over UTSA on Friday night.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Soccer
North Texas defeated UTSA 2-1 on Friday night in the final home match of head coach John Hedlund's career. Beya Rosales scored in the 24th minute and Payton Annis added a goal in the 60th minute, while UTSA's Ava Jackson scored in the 79th minute.
Why it matters
The win was North Texas's first conference victory this season and ended an eight-match winless streak dating to Sept. 13. The result keeps the Mean Green in contention for a postseason spot as the regular season nears its end.
North Texas is 5-6-6 overall and 1-3-5 in American Conference play following the win. Hedlund's tenure of 32 seasons includes 16 conference championships, and the program has recorded 30 consecutive winning seasons under his leadership.
The players
John Hedlund
Hedlund founded the North Texas women's soccer program in 1995 and has led it for 32 seasons, guiding the Mean Green through this final home match.
Beya Rosales
Rosales is a North Texas forward who scored the opening goal in the 24th minute of the match against UTSA.
Payton Annis
Annis is a North Texas player who scored in the 60th minute and set up the opening goal with a free kick from the sideline.
The details
Annis sent a free kick from the sideline over the crowded box, and Rosales headed it in off the back post for the opening goal. Annis later worked between two defenders on the left side of the box and fired a shot into the top right corner.
Timeline
Sept. 13: North Texas began an eight-match winless streak with a 1-0 win at DePaul.
Friday: North Texas defeated UTSA 2-1 in Hedlund's final home game.
Tuesday: North Texas faces ECU in a game that could determine its conference tournament spot.
Nov. 3: North Texas closes the regular season at Tulsa.
Season Trajectory
The win gives North Texas a path into the American Conference tournament field after a season that had been mostly winless in league play. A victory at Tulsa on Nov. 3 would keep the team's postseason hopes alive heading into the final week.
North Texas needs a win at Tulsa on Nov. 3 to remain in postseason contention. A loss to ECU on Tuesday would also shape whether the Mean Green enter the conference tournament.
The takeaway
Hedlund's farewell win shows that a late-season result can still reshape a team's postseason prospects, and North Texas's next two games will decide whether this win leads to a tournament spot.
What happens next
North Texas plays at Tulsa on Nov. 3 to close the regular season, and it faces ECU on Tuesday in a game that could determine its conference tournament spot.
Further reading
Follow more coverage in the Soccer section for context on North Texas's season and the American Conference race.
Source note: This article includes information reported by North Texas Daily.
