The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Dayton
Soccer opens Kelly era with 3-2 overtime victory
08.17.2012 | Soccer
Aug. 17, 2012
Box Score | Box Score 
Post-Match Interviews |
AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Texas Soccer team prevailed over Dayton 3-2 during overtime Friday night in the season opener at Mike A. Myers Stadium and Soccer Field. Senior Kristin Cummins scored two of the three goals for the Longhorns, including the game-winner during the 99th minute.
Texas first-year head coach Angela Kelly has led her teams to victories in her past six season openers.
Dayton was first to get on the board just 2:17 into the first half. Colleen Williams found the back of the UT net with an assist by Alexis Garcia following a Flyer corner kick.
The Longhorns did not allow the lead to last long and tied up the match during the 11th minute. Cummins was able to strike unassisted from 30 yards out and score her first goal of the season to knot the match 1-1. Dayton keeper Katherine Boone attempted a clear, but Cummins knocked the ball down and sent it past Boone to knot the contest.
After aggressive, possession-oriented play, UT took the lead for the first time with a goal by freshman Sydney Shutter at 80:38. Cummins earned the assist on the tally with a pass from across the box, and Shutter found the empty net to score her first collegiate goal.
Dayton's Juliana Libertin forced extra minutes, knotting the match during the 87th minute.
Cummins scored her second goal of the night and secured the win for UT at 98:50. With an accurate crossover feed from senior Hannah Higgins, Cummins sent the ball from the left corner near the end line and the shot curved just inside the outside post.
UT had a total of 21 shots against Dayton with six by Cummins. Sophomore goalkeeper Ava Vogel, making her first career start, had one save as Dayton racked up 10 shots, four by Libertin. Boone finished with four saves.
Texas returns to action on Sunday in Fayetteville, Ark., for a 1 p.m. match against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Post-Match Quotes
Head Coach Angela Kelly
On the efforts of Cummins: It is fantastic leadership. Through her career she has shown she is willing to battle. She certainly took the team under her wings this evening. She hit the crossbar five minutes earlier [before scoring the winner]. I am very pleased. I would much rather teach off a win than a loss.
On Dayton: I have to credit Dayton. They had us on our heels. They showed us areas we need to improve. I am proud of our team and how our players battled.
On what Dayton exposed: I think they were able to create numbers-up scenarios in the midfield. I thought their movement was dynamic in their front five. In fact, there were seven players routing in that front five, so it was not a situation where you tell one of your younger players to make sure they are aware of a specific player because there were others coming at them. That was wonderful to see that kind of dynamics at the beginning of the season.
On the team's efforts tonight: The one thing we ask of every single player on the team is to give effort. We know that we are not always going to be able to have the games of our lives. That is why it is a team sport and not an individual sport. It is important that we remember this feeling and go forward. We are going to enjoy this, then we are going to prepare for the next game.
Freshman Forward Sydney Shutter
On her first collegiate start: It felt awesome. I really enjoyed every moment of it.
On her goal: It was a really big relief because I thought it would be the game-winning goal. That would have been a really big honor, but it felt amazing to score.
On what tonight's game says about the toughness of the team: It says that we are really good at working together as a unit and that we are willing to fight for that win, which is what we want to do.
On the takeaway of tonight's match: I learned to push through everything; it does not matter what the score is, you have to keep going as hard as you can.
Senior Midfielder Kristin Cummins
On the game winning goal: Hannah [Higgins] won the ball in the midfield and had a break away and attacked a defender. When she attacked the defender, she drew it toward the defense opposite of me and I ran on the endline while she slotted me through. I then picked a place and finished.
On falling behind early: This team has definitely put in the work, so we knew that if we got down we could come back. We worked too hard just give this game up. There was never a question in my mind about if we were going to come back and win this game.
Post-Match Notes
- Seven of Texas' 11 starters for tonight's match were making their first or second career starts. Freshman Lindsey Meyer, freshman Ali Schmalz, sophomore Cierra Grubbs, sophomore Ava Vogel, sophomore Sharis Lachappelle and senior Kara Hoffman earned their initial starts while sophomore Allison Smith made her second.
- Of Texas' 22 players in uniform tonight (freshman goalkeeper Abby Smith playing in the U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup in Japan), 18 entered the contest in the first half.
- The Longhorns had not played a home overtime match since Oct. 29, 2010, when they tied Texas A&M 1-1 in double OT.
- Senior Kristin Cummins tallied her second career multiple-goal game (3 at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Oct. 1, 2010). She is one of just 16 Longhorns to have more than one multiple-goal game in her career.
- Cummins has recorded three of Texas' last four goals dating back to the 2011 season. She scored against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals and two of the team's three in tonight's season opener.
- Cummins' first goal broke a scoreless string of 287:29 for UT as it was shut out in consecutive matches against Oklahoma State and South Carolina to end the 2011 campaign.
