The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Arizona State
Arlitt nets first career goal as No. 3 Soccer edges Arizona State, 1-0
09.08.2007 | Soccer
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The No. 3 Texas Soccer team won its third consecutive game defeating Arizona State, 1-0, in front of a near-capacity crowd of 890 fans on Friday, Sept. 7 at Sun Devil Stadium at Tempe, Ariz.
UT head coach Chris Petrucelli's squad moves to 3-0-0 and Arizona State drops to 1-2-0 on the year. Texas opens the season 3-0-0 for the third time in school history as it went 3-0-0 in 1999 and 2002 before losing the fourth game in those seasons.
For the second consecutive match a freshman scored a goal as newcomer Niki Arlitt (Houston, Texas) found the back of the net 51 minutes, 41 seconds into the match. Reigning Big 12 Newcomer of the Week Brooke Lee (Mesquite, Texas) was credited with the assist, marking her third career point in as many matches.
All-Big 12 goalkeeper Dianna Pfenninger (Sugar Land, Texas) was stellar in the net for Texas as she posted five saves in her first shutout of the season and picked up her third win of the season.
The ASU offense tested UT including Pfenninger as she faced three one-on-one's in the final 15 minutes of the match.
The 2006 Big 12 Tournament Defensive MVP showcased her skill stopping a charging Sun Devil midfielder Lara Kazer with 15 minutes remaining on the clock. ASU midfielder Alexander Elston came back with shot from inside the box at 76: 28 but Pfenninger made a diving grab to retrieve the ball again.
With 9:15 remaining, Pfenninger was tested again by forward Dante Perea. After Perea got behind a typically impenetrable UT backline, Pfenninger deflected Perea's shot to keep ASU off the board.
ASU held the edge over Texas in fouls (18-17), cornerkicks (5-1), offsides (4-1) and shots (9-5).
Sun Devil goalkeeper Briana Silvestri was charged with the loss, registering one save and allowing one goal.
ASU's Carly Kallas and Courtney Crane led the team in shots with two apiece.
Texas freshman and Scottsdale, Ariz., native Kirsten Birkhold was one of six newcomers to start the match.
UT heads to Arizona for a Sunday, Sept. 9 night match at Murphey Stadium. The Longhorns and Wildcats are slated for a 9 p.m. CT start.
POSTGAME QUOTES
TEXAS HEAD COACH Chris Petrucelli
On freshman Niki Arlitt's game-winning goal: We were up and down which is typical of young players -- from day-to-day and half-to-half. [Freshman] Nikki [Arlitt] scored a great goal in the short period of time that she played. What we saw out there was just a glimpse of her potential."
On the combination of veteran players and talented newcomers: It's a good mix. You have a good strong core of veteran leadership which has a big impact on the newcomers. [The younger players] have great role models and people to learn from. When you sit in the locker room and talk to a [U.S. National Team standout and Texas junior defender Stephanie] Logterman or [NSCAA All-American and Texas junior defender Kasey] Moore, you're talking to one of the best players in the country.
On the importance of the ASU win: It's a big win because it comes on the road against a good team. You take any win you can get at this point especially against teams like this. It was a great game because it exposed some things and showed we still have a lot of work to do.
FRESHMAN FORWARD Niki Arlitt
On the play that set it the game-winning goal: Stephanie [Logterman] worked hard to set up the play. After she got the ball in, it bounced around and came off [freshman] Brooke [Lee]. I took the shot and it felt great. It was my first [career] goal and every one came over to congratulate me.
