Soccer downs Samford 2-0

Friday, September 6

Austin, Texas

7 p.m.

University of Texas

2-2-1

Samford

2-2-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Samford	0	0	0
Texas	2	0	2

09.06.2013 | Soccer

Box Score

Kelsey Shimmick and Gabby Zarnegar tally their first goals of the season; Abby Smith picks up ninth career shutout.

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Soccer team got a pair of first-half goals from Kelsey Shimmick and Gabby Zarnegar to spur the Longhorns to a 2-0 victory over Samford on Friday night at Mike A. Myers Stadium and Soccer Field.

Shimmick's goal, her first of the season for the sophomore forward and fourth of her career, came in the 18th minute. Freshman defender Isabelle Kerr sent a cross from the left side of the 18-yard box that ricocheted into the air off Samford keeper Katie Peters. Shimmick sent a kick over her head on the rebound and found the back of the net.

Zarnegar extended UT's lead in the 36th minute. After freshman midfielder Katie Gernsbacher received a pass up the left side from senior forward Brenda Saucedo, Gernsbacher crossed the ball into the six-yard box and found the left foot of Zarnegar, who put it away for her first goal of 2013.

Kerr, Gernsbacher and Saucedo each earned their first career points in the form of assists on Texas' two scoring plays.

The Longhorns came out with energy and kept the ball in their offensive side for much of the opening half, tallying five shots, four of them on goal. Texas' back line was stout as Samford had only one true scoring opportunity, coming in the 18th minute. Malcanisha Kelley found space on the right side and sent a shot on the ground toward the net, but UT keeper Abby Smith made an athletic diving save in the box.

UT had several more opportunities to widen the gap in the second half. Marchelle Davis and Brooke Gilbert sent balls toward the net in the 49th and 57th minutes, respectively, that forced a pair of Peters saves. In the 62nd minute, Gernsbacher nearly picked up her first career goal when she got a shot off at the top of the box that hit the crossbar.

The Longhorns (2-2-1) outshot the Bulldogs (2-2-0) 12-7 in the game. Smith, who has played every minute for UT in goal thus far in 2013, made three saves and recorded her ninth career shutout.

Texas returns to action on Sunday, playing host to the Illinois State Redbirds at Noon at Myers Stadium. The game will be televised live by Longhorn Network.