The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma
Soccer opens Big 12 play with 2-1 win at Oklahoma
09.25.2009 | Soccer
Sept. 25, 2009
NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Texas Soccer team opened Big 12 Conference play with a 2-1 victory over Oklahoma Friday night in Norman. The Horns used goals from sophomore Kylie Doniak and freshman Hannah Higgins to extend their unbeaten streak in conference openers to four seasons.
Doniak put the Horns on the board in the 21st minute for her third goal of the season. Freshman Becka Rivera started the play when she faked out her defender at the top of the box and sent the ball over to Doniak on the right side. Doniak then fired her shot past her defender where it hit the left post and bounced into the goal.
OU evened the score in the 47th minute when Whitney Palmer got through the UT backline and pulled UT keeper Alexa Gaul out of the net to challenge. Palmer was then able to send the ball past Gaul for the score.
The Horns struck back less than 10 minutes later when Higgins netted the gamewinner in the 56th minute. Sophomore Courtney Goodson played the ball through to Higgins who outran her defender in the center of the box. OU keeper Kelsey Devonshire came out to go one-on-one with the freshman. Devonshire dove after a Higgins fake leaving the net open for her to net her first goal as a Longhorn.
The Longhorns return to the Lone Star State for a match at Baylor Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. Central.
POST MATCH NOTES
- With her goal, sophomore Kylie Doniak moves into the team lead with six points (three goals)...point total is also a career-high
-Freshman Hannah Higgins scored her first goal of the season and becomes the third newcomer to find the back of the net this year. -Nine UT players now account for the Horns' 12 goals.
-Texas moves to 8-5-1 all time against the Sooners and wins its third-straight over OU.
-Texas is now 6-4-1 in Big 12 openers and 3-3-0 when starting conference play on the road.
POST MATCH QUOTES
Head Coach Chris Petrucelli
On how the team controlled possession better than they have: We were able to possess the ball relatively well for the first 60 minutes of the game and its something we've been focusing on and working on and certainly led to both goals. We were able to move the ball forward and create quality scoring opportunities.
On getting a Big 12 win on the road: Three points on the road is huge. Points are hard to come by on the road so you are happy when you get any.
On the play of the newcomers: I think the young guys are starting to play really well. I thought Hannah [Higgins] finished her goal really well with great composure. Becka [Rivera] played extremely well and Kristin Cummins also played well. Then we have Kylie [Doniak] who is really becoming a forward in the middle going forward. I think our younger players are starting to really grow up.
On the team battling back on the road: We showed a lot of character tonight. We were up, then gave up and goal and were able to respond with a man down. We really didn't give up a good goal scoring chance from there on out.
