The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Arkansas
Soccer drops 1-0 decision at Arkansas
08.19.2012 | Soccer
Aug. 19, 2012
Box Score 
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - A goal by Arkansas' Jeriann Okoro at 71:58 lifted the Razorbacks to a 1-0 victory over Texas on Sunday afternoon. The Longhorns held a 19-9 advantage in shots and a 14-2 edge in corner kicks, but could not score on Arkansas goalkeeper Kelly Roliard, who finished the match with six saves.
Texas opened the game with pressure in the Razorback zone, resulting in three corner kicks within the first 11 minutes of action.
Neither team registered a shot until the 22nd minute, when sophomore forward Allison Smith fired a pair. Roliard fell to the ground attempting to stop the first offering. On the rebound, Smith took another shot and a pair of Razorbacks standing in the right corner of the net turned the ball aside. Senior forward Kristin Cummins had one final look on goal during the flurry, but her shot was blocked.
It was Texas sophomore midfielder Sharis Lachappelle who recorded the first shot on goal of the contest, forcing Roliard to make a save at 24:40. Lachappelle fired from around 20-yards away, but Roliard came up with the stop.
Arkansas responded with pressure of its own during the 32nd minute. Sophomore goalkeeper Ava Vogel registered her first save of the afternoon, knocking aside a shot from around 10-yards away by 2011 All-Southeastern Conference Freshman Team selection Okoro. The Razorbacks' Sam Wolf followed on the rebound, but the attempt sailed over the goal.
With five minutes remaining in the opening half, the Razorbacks had another opportunity as a corner kick resulted in a shot by Margaret Power, but the attempt was blocked by a Longhorn wall and cleared.
After the scoreless first 45 minutes, Lachappelle nearly broke the tie at 48:53 as she headed a ball off the far right post after a Longhorn corner kick. Lachappelle had another strike at 54:18, but Roliard made the save.
UT knocked on the door again with 25 minutes remaining in the match as senior forward Hannah Higgins forced Roliard into a save. At 68:56, Smith let loose an attempt from around 15-yards away and Roliard turned it aside with a diving stop.
Okoro broke the scoreless tie in the 72nd minute as she snuck past the Longhorns' defense. Her first shot was stopped by Vogel, but the rebound went back on Okoro's feet and she sent it into the empty net at 71:58 as Vogel was on the ground.
The Longhorns took four shots in the final 14 minutes after the Razorback goal, but two went high, one was blocked and the final of the match was wide right.
The Longhorns return to the pitch Friday for the beginning of a four-match home stand. The stretch kicks off Aug. 24, with an 8 p.m. Central contest against North Carolina State (0-2-0).
Post-Match Quotes
Head coach Angela Kelly
On today's result: As I mentioned on Friday night, it's early in the season. We're going to continue to learn from each and every single match while preparing for our conference season. Give credit to Arkansas; they executed well, especially on the counter-attack for the goal.
We created ample opportunities to find success. We are continually talking about having discipline and being disciplined in our shape both offensively and defensively. There were instances today when we lacked a little bit of that discipline. That's just a matter of us building trust in each other and improving each and every day.
On the offense created: We had numerous chances, with seven of our nineteen shots hitting the face of the goal. Each player who went in the game today found a time when she could have executed just a little bit better.
On the focus for this week: Just being disciplined. We have to execute and trust each other. Trust comes from a group of individuals being committed to a common goal.
We are Texas and are we are proud to be Texas.
The sign of a great team is how they respond to a tough loss, or a very significant win. Today we could have executed better. That's what we're going to work on this week leading into our match on Friday night. We will be prepared and ready to play.
Post-Match Notes
- Eight of Texas' starting 11 were freshmen or sophomores. Rookie Sydney Shutter made her initial career start and junior Gabby Zarnegar recorded her ninth, but first since her freshman year.
- Texas used 19 of the 23 players on its roster during the contest. All 19 who entered recorded 15 or more minutes.
- Arkansas managed just nine shots during the contest. In UT's first two games, the defense has allowed only 19 shots.
- The Razorbacks also fired just three shots on goal. Opponents have tallied only six shots on goal in this year's two matches.
- The Longhorns took 14 corner kicks, just two shy their the single-match record of 16 set Sept. 14, 2003, at LSU.
- Texas has taken 40 shots in the first two matches of the season, an average of 20.0 per contest.
- A year ago, the Longhorns averaged 14.5 shots a match.
- Seniors Hannah Higgins, Kristin Cummins and Kara Hoffman have combined to take 16 of the team's 40 shots (40.0 percent) this season.
