The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas-Texas A&M Soccer: A rivalry redefined
09.25.2008 | Soccer
Sept. 25, 2008
Andy Ortegon, Texas Media Relations
AUSTIN, Texas -- This Friday night, the No. 7 Longhorns (7-0-1) will square off against No. 8 Texas A&M (7-1-0) in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown at Mike A. Myers Stadium. The Longhorns have won four of the last seven matches, including last year's 2-1 victory during the Big 12 Championship and 3-2 win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on the Aggies' home field. UT will be defending its 21-match home unbeaten streak and will be looking to extend its best start in program history.
The rivalry, deep-rooted in Texas tradition, was once dominated by the team out of College Station who won the first 12 meetings. The feud has always carried added weight, as it usually has a huge effect on Big 12 Championship seeding. The match also garners national attention with both squads having been ranked in the nation's top 10 in each of the last four meetings. Despite the Aggies holding a 15-5-0 lead in the all-time series, the rivalry has been redefined over the last four years.
UT's first victory dance over the Aggies came on October 31, 2003 but it wasn't an easy win by any means. The Longhorns trailed the entire match until Katie McBain connected with 37 seconds left to force overtime. In the second set of extra minutes, A&M was called for a handball in its own box with 54 seconds left, setting up a penalty kick. Freshman Nikki Thaden drilled the ball past the Aggie keeper to give Texas the 2-1 win and the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 Championship.
Unfortunately, the glory was short-lived, as the Aggies beat the Horns twice during the following season, including a 3-0 shutout in the Big 12 Championship.
A year later, the Horns were out to prove that their win two years prior was no fluke. Behind goals from current senior Kasey Moore and Caitlin Kennedy, UT beat No. 13 A&M 2-1, in Austin. Kennedy and current senior Dianna Pfenninger, who collected a then-career-high seven saves, were both honored by the Big 12 the following week, as the league's Player and Defensive Player of the Week.
As is the common storyline in the UT-A&M rivalry, the 2006 match in Austin proved to be another nail-biter. The Longhorns prevailed 1-0 in front of the third-largest crowd (4,133) in program history. Moore, a sophomore defender at the time, netted the game-winner to break the UT record for most regular-season wins (15) and give the Longhorns the third seed in the Big 12 Championship.
Last season proved to be by far the most interesting in series history, as the two teams faced each other three times. In their first match-up on Oct. 12, the Longhorns suffered a 2-0 deficit in College Station. Just a month later the teams met again, this time in the title match at the Big 12 Championship in San Antonio.
The No. 12 Texas Longhorns took revenge on their previous loss by defeating the top-seeded Aggies 2-1 for their second straight Big 12 Postseason Title. Thanks to two early goals and a strong defensive push led by Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Kasey Moore, the Longhorns were able to come out victorious despite being outshot 33-9. Dianna Pfenninger was selected as the tournament's Offensive MVP, making her the first player in Big 12 history to earn both offensive and defensive MVP accolades, while Moore claimed Defensive MVP honors.
As fate would have it, the dramatic match-up for the Big 12 title would not be the last for the Longhorns and the Aggies in 2007. On Nov. 17, the teams met for a third and final time during the second round of the NCAA Tournament in College Station. The game was once again a tough battle and the Longhorns ended the first half trailing 1-0. Erica Campanelli chose the right time for her first career goal and pulled the Horns even in the 54th minute. After the two squads traded goals, senior All-American Kelsey Carpenter netted the game-winner with 12 minutes remaining to send Texas to its third appearance in the NCAA Round of 16 over the last four years. Not only did Texas break A&M's 20-match home winning streak and end the Aggies' season, but UT claimed its first-ever victory in College Station.
The 2008 Longhorns know history repeats itself, and they are expecting another hard-fought battle. Both teams are in the nation's Top-10 and are looking to start conference play undefeated.
"It is a huge game," said senior keeper Dianna Pfenninger. "Every year it is a close outcome. There is always a lot of intensity, excitement and it's just a really fun game to play in."
"The intensity is going to be really high between the crowd and the rivalry," added senior Kasey Moore. "It is one of those games where the intensity is so high, it is almost chaotic in its own way."
The Horns do have one thing on their side though, as they'll get to play at the friendly confines of Myers Stadium. UT officials are expecting a near-record crowd.
"Texas A&M always brings out a huge crowd," said Moore. "I know they are bussing people in for the game, and we are trying to get together all of our friends, athletes, and pretty much everyone we know out here. Usually, it is the biggest turnout we have all season. It is going to be a really good game."
Friday's match is just one more to add to the books. If history says anything, it will be another classic.
