The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
San Diego State
Soccer drops nonconference game to San Diego State, 1-0
10.09.2011 | Soccer
Oct. 9, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Soccer team fell 1-0 in a nonconference match against the visiting Aztecs from San Diego State on a cool and wet Sunday afternoon at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
The San Diego State goal came in the 43rd minute off a screaming shot from the Aztecs' Sophie Metz. The goal was set up by Cat Walker, who slotted a beautifully weighted ball into the penalty box. Metz then finished off the attack with a sliding left-footed effort that went slicing into the upper corner of the UT goal.
Walker continued to give the UT defense fits all afternoon, netting a total of five shots. However, goalkeeper Alexa Gaul recorded six saves and played consistently throughout to keep the Longhorns within striking distance.
The Longhorns appeared to tie the match in the 57th minute on an incredible strike from Vanessa Ibewuike, but an offsides call negated the goal.
UT continued to show great urgency, taking nine second-half shots. However, the Aztecs took 13 shots in the match to the Longhorns' 11.
UT returns to Big 12 play Friday, Oct. 14 when the Longhorns travel to Stillwater, Okla., to take on Oklahoma State.
Junior forward Vanessa Ibewuike
On the overall game: We didn't show up in the first half and we went down one. It is hard to come back when you go down a goal like that. In the second half, we played a little better, but we still did not play up to our potential. So now we just have to go back, work out this week and go next weekend to get the W's that we need.
On the changes made at halftime: We really did not make any formation changes until the very end when we played four up top. At halftime Coach (Petrucelli) called us out. He said that we were not playing well. He said we have to put it on ourself to come out with more energy in the second half and unfortunately it was not enough.
On the difference the weather played (rain and wet pitch): It was a little different. We are used to the hot Sunday. The ball was more slippery than it usually is but I don't think that is the reason why the game turned out the way it did. We just have to come out and play better in the beginning
On the physical nature of San Diego State: They were pretty physical. I think any team that we play will be pretty physical though because of the territory of the game. But they definitely put a body on us, and I don't think we were expecting that out of them, and that did affect the game.
On what needs to improve for the next game against Oklahoma State: We have to get our things together. We have to really come out on top of our stuff next game. We have to take care of Oklahoma State and Tech next weekend.
Senior defender Lucy Keith
On the overall game: We did not have a great performance first half and that is really what set us up. We let that goal happen and second half we fought back but there wasn't enough time. We can't just rely on 45 minutes to get done what we need to get done. We need to come out and play the full 90.
On what broke down defensively allowing the lone goal: As I remember, we let the ball switch sides of the field. We were caught a little out of shape and we just weren't tight enough on the girl that shot the ball, she got a free look and she put it away.
On what they can take from today's game: We have to learn from it, otherwise we will just destruct. I am sure it will hurt today and tomorrow morning as well, but we have a big weekend coming up on the road. We have no choice but to turn this around. We will watch film and learn from our mistakes. We just have to dig down deep and find the courage to show up next Friday.
Coach Chris Petrucelli
On today's game: We started the game slowly, going down a goal made it hard. We responded in the second half. It is very hard when you get down a goal like that. They were very organized and very hard to break down
On what San Diego State did to slow down Texas' offense: They sat in the second half, and that slowed us down some. Most of the issues were with what we did. We had had a number of chances; three or four head balls right in front of the goal, but we could not get our goals. I feel like we broke down more than they broke us down.
On what needs to be done to improve: We have to start the game the right way. We cannot start playing when we are down a goal. We have done this a couple of times this year and a couple of time we were able to come back but we cannot keep putting ourselves in that situation.
