The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Auburn
Soccer drops hard-fought 1-0 decision in season opener at Auburn
08.25.2006 | Soccer
AUBURN, Ala. -- The University of Texas soccer team played a physical and hard-fought match against Auburn (1-0), but dropped its season-opening contest, 1-0, on Friday night in front of 2,259, the second largest crowd in Auburn Soccer Complex history.
The Tigers scored when Kristin Stewart set up on the right side of the field, just outside of the box. In an attempt to clear the cross, the ball bounced off a UT defender into the net during the 63rd minute.
"If you look at our play, you can say we played well," said eighth-year head coach Chris Petrucelli. "But you can't win a game if you don't score a goal. (The loss) wasn't because of a lack of effort, we just didn't finish the chances we created."
Texas outshot the Tigers, 15-6, with 10 Longhorn shots coming in the second half. UT goalkeeper Dianna Pfenninger (Sugar Land, Texas) recorded one save in two shots on goal.
In the opening period, the UT defense and Pfenninger kept Auburn off the scoreboard despite the Tigers taking aim four times at the goal. AU had a three corners and one free kick to get past the Texas defense but failed to connect on each attempt.
The Longhorns opened the game on the attack with Kelsey Carpenter (Allen, Texas) taking three shots, including two on goal, and Ashley Foster (Athens, Ga.) firing one against the Tiger defense in the first 45 minutes of play.
In the second period, Karen Haight (Beaverton, Ore.) made a big play for the defense stopping a streaking (Auburn) Gabi Rivera. Rivera set up down the right side of the field and was in the clear when Haight slide tackled to block the ball and set up a corner kick that was cleared by the UT defense.
In their next action, the Longhorns host an exciting weekend of soccer at Mike A. Myers Stadium taking on No. 3 Penn State on Friday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m. and No. 13 Illinois on Sunday, September 3.
