The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Connecticut
Soccer advances to third round of NCAA Championship on penalty kicks
11.13.2006 | Soccer
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Senior Amy Burlingham hit the fifth shot of the shootout to fuel fifth-ranked Texas past Connecticut, 2-1, in the second-round of the 2006 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. The Longhorns and Huskies tied 1-1 after 110 minutes of regulation and two overtime periods at Yousef Al-Marzook Field on the campus of the University of Hartford on Monday, Nov. 13.
Texas returns home to Mike A Myers Stadium for a third-round match against Portland (16-3-3) on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. (CT). Portland advanced after downing BYU, 2-1, on Thursday, Nov. 9, and shutting out host Utah, 3-0, on Saturday, Nov. 11, in the second round.
"It was an even game," said eighth-year head coach Chris Petrucelli. "The two teams were evenly matched. As usual, (UConn head coach) Len (Tsantiris) put together a good team. They got their rhythm going in the second half and put some pressure on us. They possess the ball and play good soccer; they were a tough team to beat. We're excited to get out of here with a win."
Although the Longhorns advance, the match is recorded as a tie, bringing UT's record to 18-3-3. UConn ends the season with an 11-7-4 overall record.
Burlingham (Costa Mesa, Calif.) was not only key in the shootout, but integral in the scoring drive that setup the first goal. The play began when Burlingham drew the UConn defense including Huskies' goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe out of the nets. The ball deflected off a UConn defender and out of bounds, setting up a Texas cornerkick.
Sophomore defender Stephanie Logterman (Austin, Texas) kicked the ball into the middle of the box where sophomore defender Kasey Moore (Mission Viejo, Calif.) put a header on the ball and into the Huskies' net for the score. Moore tallied her fourth goal of the season, 50 minutes, 31 seconds into the match.
"Logterman just took a great (corner) kick and placed it perfectly at the back post," said Moore on her goal-scoring play. "I saw the left side of the goal was open because the goalkeeper shifted. I've been struggling to score all year long. I'm just glad I got the chance to do it today."
The Huskies answered the Longhorns' score when Lauren Ebert fired the ball which bounced over UT goalkeeper Dianna Pfenninger's (Sugar Land, Texas) head at the 69:59 mark. It marked just the second goal of the year allowed by the Longhorns' defense in the postseason (three Big 12 Soccer Championships and two NCAA Tournament matches).
The Texas attack started early in the game when Kennedy sent a ball to Burlingham who was running down the near side of the field. Burlingham touched the ball and sent a cross to Imber, who was running through the center of the UConn defense, but it soared over her head and out of bounds.
In the shootout, Moore took the first shot, and missed. UConn's Niki Cross was the first shooter and hit the left post. Logterman was second for UT and put it past the goalkeeper into the nets. The Huskies answered her score with a goal of their own as Tegeler put the ball behind Pfenninger.
It seemed as if UConn would gain the edge over UT as Labbe blocked senior Priscilla Fite's (Irving, Texas) attempt. The next shooter for the Huskies, Annie Yi, hit the left post.
Senior goalkeeper Dana Hall (Kingwood, Texas) made the second score, to put the Longhorns ahead 2-1 in the shootout.
Pfenninger came up with a big save, clocking UConn's Brittany Taylor's shot before Burlingham scored for the final time.
The Pilots lead the all-time series 7-0-0, including a win over UT, 2-0, in the third round of the 2004 NCAA Women's Soccer Championships in Austin.
The Longhorns are now 4-5 in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship, with all matches being played under Petrucelli. It marks the second overtime game that UT has played and first that was decided by penalty kicks.
Texas advanced to the third round after defeating Long Island University 4-0 on Friday, Nov. 10 in Storrs, Conn.
The Longhorns were rained out of yesterday's match pushing the game to today (Nov. 13) and to the field at the University of Hartford.
NOTES: Moore leads all defenders in scoring with four goals this season. The Huskies have never lost a second round game at home in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship.
