The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Iowa State
Soccer defeats Iowa State, 2-1, for first Big 12 win of the season
09.25.2011 | Soccer
Sept. 25, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Soccer team earned its first Big 12 victory of the year with a 2-1 win against the Iowa State Cyclones on a hot and windy Sunday afternoon at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Nina Frausing Pedersen provided the Longhorns a quick start, scoring the first goal of her collegiate career in the 22nd minute.
The opening goal came off a free-kick by Pedersen from more than 40 yards out. The curling service from Pedersen found its way into the side netting after her teammates' runs into the box distracted the Cyclone goalkeeper.
The Longhorns dominated much of the rest of the match, racking up 17 total shots (five on target), but were not able to get their second goal until the 84th minute.
Vanessa Ibewuike's beautifully slotted pass found the streaking Taylor Knaack, who powered the ball into the back of the net from point blank range.
Ibewuike started the play off by muscling the Iowa State defender off the ball and then dribbled to the end-line where she drew out the goalkeeper. Ibewuike's powerful service into the goal mouth set up Knaack in perfect position to score her third goal of the season.
The Cyclones did get one back with just six minutes to play when sophomore forward Jennifer Dominguez volleyed in a cross from Brittany Morgan. But the Longhorns, who outshot Iowa State 17-6, held on for the conference victory.
UT continues Big 12 play Friday, Sept. 30 when the Longhorns travel to Lawrence, Kan., to take on the Kansas Jayhawks.
Senior F Taylor Knaack
On her goal: Well, honestly, we just worked really hard to get down to the end line and she basically did all the work. I was just there to finish by myself in position. All I had to do was put a body, a foot, a toe on it and it was going to go in, so she did all the hard work.
On the loss of Doniak: Obviously, we had a pretty tough loss with Kylie [Doniak] being out, but Brooke [Gilbert] has just stepped right in and has been working. It's been great. Obviously it's a really big loss, so we all just have to take on extra reasonability and work extra hard. I think we're doing a pretty good job doing that so far.
On adjusting the offensive strategy: Kylie [Doniak] usually is the holding, the centre forward for us. She usually holds the ball and stuff, so tall three of us forwards have had to take on that roll. We have switched positions. Every 10 to 15 minutes we've put a new person in the middle. Your job is just to hold it and distribute so were just trying to work together and fill that role.
Junior F Hannah Higgins
On offensive adjustments after Friday's loss: After Friday, we knew we had to come out strong and I think it showed in the first ten minutes or so. We were just on their throwing and we were shooting. We kept shooting. We knew we needed to get goals today, obviously, to get the result. It was crucial for us to get that result. The forwards had to take the initiative and just try and get to goal.
On being more aggressive today: Iowa State is definitely a physical team. We've know that. We knew that coming [going] into the game. We knew we had to come out more aggressively if we were going to compete with them. We need to make that one extra run to make sure we can step in front of the ball. So today was we had to compete a little more than we might have had to in the past due to the physicality of Iowa State.
On today's goals: I think they both show what our offense is capable of. Obviously on the field kicks, we are getting numbers up. We're able to dribble and get that foul. We have Nina [Frausing Pedersen] who can hit those field kicks. And then on the second goal ,that's how we've scored most of our goals. We know that our strengths are out wide and Chris [Petrucelli] keeps telling us to get the ball wide and attack the end line and cross it back. That's exactly what Vanessa [Ibewuike] did. She did a great job. She took to end line, had composure and just found Taylor [Knaack]. Taylor had the easy job of just putting it in the back of the net.
Sophomore D Nina Frausing Pedersen
On wanting to score a goal: Well, I mean, a goal is a goal. And it was important because we need to get this win. So, I just kicked on a field goal and it went in.
On whether she was going for a goal or a cross on the free kick: No, I wasn't our target is Lucy [Keith] and Leah [Payne] if she's in. I still need to get it in range for the goal.
On the first conference win: It was great. We really needed to get out here and prove that we could get a win on our home field. A loss against Baylor was not as we expected. It was great to get out there and we all did great out there. It was good.
On last minute goals: I think we played well Friday as well. But they got goals in the last minutes. We need to figure out how we can keep up with that so they can't score and we can get a shutout.
On the defense's play: They did great. We really like dropping as a team and stepping as a team, which we have been working on. So, I think we just need to keep it up and get rid of those late goals.
On today's game conditions: It was hot out there and we were all really, really tired.
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