The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Nebraska
Doniak and Higgins lead Soccer past Nebraska, 2-1
10.16.2009 | Soccer
Oct. 16, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas -- Sophomore Kylie Doniak and freshman Hannah Higgins each found the back of the net Friday night to lead The University of Texas Soccer team to a 2-1 victory over the Nebraska Huskers. Texas picked up three points in Big 12 play and is now 7-6-2 overall and 3-1-2 in league action. Nebraska is now 8-3-4 and 2-2-2 in the Big 12.
Doniak recorded her fifth goal of the season in the 15th minute of the match. Freshman Hannah Higgins had taken the ball up the left line before crossing it to Lucy Keith. The sophomore one-touched the ball to Doniak who put it in the upper right corner of the net from just under 30 yards out.
Nebraska responded 11 minutes later when Julie Berkshire was able to score off the Huskers' third corner kick in less than 45 seconds. Berkshire connected on Carly Peetz's rebounded shot for the equalizer.
The match remained knotted at one until the 83rd minute when Higgins connected on her second gamewinner of the season. Doniak slipped the ball to Higgins in the middle of the box where the freshman fired a shot that forced NU keeper Jessica Mills to make a diving save. Mills couldn't keep her hands on the ball and Higgins was there to follow up and knock the rebound into the back of the net.
The Longhorns kept the nation's leading offense to just nine shots and three on frame. The Huskers entered the match averaging 23.5 shots per outing and 3.57 goals per match. Texas also became just the third team to outshoot NU this season with a 12-9 shot advantage.
Texas closes out the weekend with a 1 p.m. match at Iowa State on Sunday, Oct.17. With just four league matches remaining, UT is fourth with 11 league points.
POST MATCH NOTES
-Texas moves to 10-9-0 all-time against the Huskers.
-Texas held Nebraska to just nine shots after NU entered the match averaging 23.5 shots per outing.
-Sophomore Kylie Doniak netted her team-leading fifth goal of the season while Hannah Higgins posted her third and second gamewinner of the year.
-Higgins led the Longhorns with four shots, two of which were on frame and finished the match with three points (one goal, one assist).
Freshmen Forward Hannah Higgins
On tonight's goal: Tonight I was a little nervous because I had missed a couple of opportunities I thought I should have done better on earlier in the game, by simply kicking it to the keeper. So, this time I just wanted to make sure I just had a straight follow through. It was a great through-ball by Kylie Doniak and it worked out. I honestly think it was a team effort on both goals. It was not just one assist and one goal, the energy came from the entire team.
On the energy of the team: In the past we've kind of showed that we've struggled a lot during the second half. So we wanted to make sure we started out with high intensity and put them under pressure quickly. We had to keep them on their heels the entire half. Everybody's energy and effort was just amazing.
Head Coach Chris Petrucelli:
On the game overall: I was very proud of our girls tonight. We played really well. That may be our best performance of the year. We created chances. We were really solid in the back against a team that has scored a lot of goals this year. We fought hard and that combination is hard to beat.
On the goal scored by sophomore Kylie Doniak: It was a great pass to set her up, and then just a very good finish by Kylie. She connected with the ball so perfectly and it was simply a great shot.
On the goal scored by freshman Hannah Higgins: It was a nice slip to Hannah and then she was relentless. She took the shot, and followed it. And that's what the best players do.
On Hannah's playing under pressure: She started the season a little less than a 100 percent and now she's healthy, confident, and playing very well.
