The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Denver
Soccer plays Denver to 3-3 tie
09.16.2012 | Soccer
Sept. 16, 2012
Box Score | Box Score 
Postgame Interview |
AUSTIN, Texas - In its final tune-up before starting Big 12 Conference action, The University of Texas Soccer program played to a 3-3 double-overtime tie against Denver on Sunday evening inside Mike A. Myers Stadium and Soccer Field.
Sophomore Sharis Lachappelle, senior Hannah Higgins and junior Gabby Zarnegar all scored for the Longhorns (3-6-1) against the No. 8 team in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire West Region poll.
In the opening half, Texas had the first scoring opportunity as sophomore Allison Smith took a shot at 3:06, but missed wide left. Denver's Kristen Hamilton followed with an attempt at 6:33, but it went high and over the crossbar.
In the ninth minute, Lachappelle served in a corner kick that sophomore Brooke Gilbert got a header on, but missed wide left. The Pioneers' Katy Van Lieshout missed wide at 9:29 before the teams exchanged shots in the 11th and 12th minutes. Smith registered the first shot on goal of the match at 14:26, but Denver's Lara Campbell made the save.
Neither team had another scoring opportunity until the 29th minute, when Lachappelle struck for her second career goal. A Denver foul gave the Longhorns a free kick from about 40 yards away. Sophomore Julie Arnold sent the attempt toward the goal and Campbell could not hold on to the ball. Lachappelle slotted the bouncing ball past Campbell to give the Longhorns the early lead.
The advantage did not last long, however, as UofD's Kaitlin Bast tied the contest at 1-1 at 32:25. Anna Willis passed the ball into the box and Bast sent it into the bottom right corner, past freshman goalkeeper Abby Smith.
Within the final 13 minutes of the opening half, UT senior Kristin Cummins fired two shots but could not convert on either.
Denver (6-1-2) took the first two attempts of the second half as Nikki Pappalardo at 45:32 missed wide right and Sam Harder's attempt at 47:54 went high.
Higgins put UT back in front at 49:31 as Allison Smith fed Higgins over the top of the defense and Higgins finished the one-on-one opportunity. Smith also recorded the assist on Higgins' goal Friday evening.
Following three shots by the Pioneers, the Longhorns used a Lachappelle corner kick at 67:11 to ignite the offense again. Lachappelle served the ball into the box and freshman Lindsey Meyer took two attempts, the first that was saved by Campbell and the second was blocked. Zarnegar found herself in the right place at the right time, pushing the bouncing rebound into the net for her first goal of the campaign. Meyer recorded her first career assist on the score.
Denver took its first shot in nearly 20 minutes and closed the gap to one goal at 82:22 as Nicholette Digiacomo scored off a free kick. The Pioneers quickly struck again, as Hamilton recorded a goal at 84:13 off a Bast assist to knot the contest at 3-3.
The Pioneers registered the final two shots in regulation as Kalie Vaughn missed wide left and high, sending the game into overtime.
Digiacomo recorded the only shot of the first overtime period at 92:49, but missed wide right. Digiacomo fired again at 103:45, but it was blocked. Bast nearly ended the game at 104:33, but a Texas team save pushed the ball away and kept it a tie. Allison Smith took the final shot at 109:18, but it went wide right.
Texas returns to action Friday in Ames, Iowa, to take on Iowa State (7-3-0) at 7 p.m. Central for the first league match of the campaign. The Longhorns finish the weekend with a 1 p.m. Central contest at Oklahoma (4-4-2) on Sunday.
Post-Match Notes
- Sophomore Allison Smith has recorded five points already this season after tallying three during the entire 2011 campaign.
- Smith also scored points in consecutive contests for the first time in her career.
- Junior Gabby Zarnegar's goal was her first since a Aug. 26, 2011, at Georgia.
- Senior Hannah Higgins scored in back-to-back games for the first time in her career.
- The tie was the first for Texas since a 1-1 draw at Oklahoma State on Oct. 14, 2011.
- UT has played three overtime matches this season after being a part of five in 2011.
- The Longhorns outshot Fresno State and Denver 37-21 over the weekend, including a 16-6 advantage in shots on goal.
- Texas used the same starting lineup as it did on Friday evening. It is the first time this season UT has used the same initial lineup as in another match.
- The match was the first between the two programs. Texas is now 2-1-1 in first-time meetings this season.
