The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Nicholls State
No. 23 Soccer tops Nicholls State, 5-0
09.15.2006 | Soccer
AUSTIN, Texas -- Senior forward Ashley Foster's two-goal performance fueled No. 23 Texas to a 5-0 win on Friday, Sept. 15 at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas. UT scored four times in the second half for the biggest offensive output of the 2006 season.
It marks the second consecutive match that the Longhorns have had a multi-goal performance by one player. Junior forward Kelsey Carpenter (Allen Texas) recorded a hat trick in the 4-2 win over LSU on Wednesday, Sept. 13.
UT moves to 5-2 in the win-loss column while Nicholls State leaves with a 2-5-1 record. The record ties two of the best season-opening starts (1999 and 2002) under eighth-year head coach Chris Petrucelli's and in UT history.
"I think we came into the game knowing we were going to work on some things," said Petrucelli. "We had some goals going into the game. One goal was trying to rest people. We had a rough ten games here. Obviously, Kelsey (Carpenter) is on a little bit of a roll in terms of scoring and Ashley (Foster) got a couple in the net. Those are the kind of things we were hoping to get out of this match."
Carpenter put Texas on the board first with a goal 19 minutes, three seconds into the contest. She stopped a pass from Foster, who was running near the far post, and put it in past NSU starting goalkeeper Sarah Nuenzig.
With a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period, Foster scored her first goal 46 minutes and four seconds into the game. She dribbled down the field, took a shot on goal and the ball slipped through the hands of the Nuenzig for the score.
"I wasn't really expecting the first goal," commented Foster on her third goal of the season, "since it slipped through their goalkeeper's hands. I think we got lucky there, but I was still excited, especially because it was my first home goal of the season."
Two minutes later, senior Amy Burlingham (Costa Mesa, Calif.) dribbled up the far side of the field and found a cutting Foster just outside the goal. A quick inside pass deflected off the foot of the Athens, Ga., native and past Nicholls State's Nuenzig again for the second goal in as many minutes.
"I enjoyed scoring my second goal. Amy dribbled the ball down the field and found me just outside of the post. I remember sliding in and just going for it."
Junior Leslie Imber (Houston, Texas) put herself on the stat sheet, netting her first career goal at the 64:13 mark in the match.
Less than two minutes later, at the 65:48 mark, sophomore Jill Gilbeau (hometown) headed the ball in for her second score of her career and final of the game.
The Longhorns took 37 shots, two shy of the all-time UT best and eight corners. The offense showed up early and often for both starters and players off the bench.
The defense performed well after allowing four goals in the last two outings. Senior Dana Hall (Kingwood, Texas) picked up the seventh shut out of her career and 15th win in four years at Texas. She led the UT defense recording one save on one Nicholls State shot in 90 minutes of action.
Sophomore Tracey Whitley (New Braumfels, Texas) and freshman Emily Anderson (Austin, Texas) led one of the offensive attacks, with a drive during the first half. Whitley entered the match in the 30th minute, immediately taking a touch and passing to freshman Emily Anderson (Austin, Texas). The UT newcomer took a one of her four, first-half shots which just missed the net and going over the top of the goal.
Anderson continued to drive in the second half. She was stopped in a one-on-one situation when Nicholls State's second goalkeeper of the night, Jenice Geare, tripped Anderson to set up the free kick. Sophomore defender Kasey Moore (Mission Viejo, Calif.) took the shot which was blocked by a diving Geare and stopped the Texas drive.
Anderson set the tone with the first shot on goal of the game. She led with a header that went wide right of the net just nine minutes into the game.
Another strong offensive attack came 14 minutes into the opening period when the Longhorns came together in on the NSU half of the field. Foster sprinted past three defenders to lead the series of three shots on goal. Anderson booted the second effort drawing Neunzig out of the goal, leaving an open net. Imber went for the third try but had it kicked away by the Colonels' Stephanie Leonard as Nuenzig lay on the ground, stunned from the first two attempts.
Nicholls State had their first corner kick with six minutes remaining in the game. Nuenzig picked up the start, spending 78:30 in the net before being relieved by Geare for the final 11:30 of the game. Nuenzig had six saves and Geare recorded the remaining three.
The Longhorns play the second game of the weekend, hosting Cal State Fullerton on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 1:00 p.m.
