Soccer back in win column with 2-0 triumph over UALR

Monday, October 20

Austin, Texas

7 p.m.

University of Texas

8-6-2

Arkansas-Little Rock

11-5-1

Team	1	2	Final F
UALR	0	0	0
Texas	1	1	2

Soccer back in win column with 2-0 triumph over UALR

10.20.2014 | Soccer

Box Score

Senior defender Julie Arnold nets first career goal in 71st-minute

Photo Gallery

AUSTIN, Texas – Behind a season-high 29-shot effort and goals from seniors Sharis Lachappelle and Julie Arnold, Texas (8-6-2) moved back into the win column with a dominant, 2-0 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock in a rare Monday night non-conference match-up at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

For Lachappelle a successful penalty kick just 4:43 into the contest marked her second goal of the campaign, while for Arnold, her score at the 70:49 mark was the first of the defender's career in the Burnt Orange & White.

UT out-shot the Trojans by a commanding 29-3 total and 11-1 in shots on goal while totaling a 12-0 advantage on corner kicks. Texas senior goalkeeper Ava Vogel got the start in net in relief of Abby Smith, earning her second career shutout while forced to make just one stop.

The Horns offense wasted no time making its presence felt in the contest by immediately taking control of the possession battle.

Just three minutes in, a Texas cross from the right wing towards the right post was finished in a crowd of players via a running chip. Unfortunately for UT, the referee on the far side had his flag raised skyward signaling offsides.

It would be just 1:39 later that the Longhorns broke in front on the scoreboard, and virtually all courtesy of Lachappelle. The midfielder worked her way inside the 18, made a quick move to her left past a UALR defender and was tackled, giving the head official no choice but to point to the spot. The San Antonio, Texas, product calmly finished what she started, firing the spot kick into the right side netting past diving Trojan netminder Bre Ilkuf to make it 1-0.

UALR managed its first shot of the contest from just inside the box at 5:41 as midfielder Ariel Galletti popped a side-footed shot up in the air towards frame that ended up dropping harmlessly in Vogel's waiting hands.

The Texas shooting gallery would continue virtually unabated throughout the remainder of the opening 45 minutes. Lachappelle was making a particular pest of herself, firing wide right at 6:28 and heading wide at 21:37. Granted some space on the right side of the box in the 23rd-minute, she blasted a quick shot on frame that was just stopped near the right post.

Off a long free kick taken by Arnold from the left side in the 29th-minute, junior midfielder Lindsey Meyer leapt high over the crowd in the middle of the 18 to head a ball on frame, but her effort ventured high.

Sophomore midfielder Julia Dyche and senior forward Cierra Grubbs each forced Ilkuf saves down the stretch in the first half, but UALR managed to get to the half trailing by just one score.

It was more of the same in the second 45 minutes for the Horns as UT controlled possession through the half. Lachappelle again troubled the Trojan netminder with both a shot on frame at 51:16 and a drive that ricocheted off the left post at 61:04.

With a second goal seemingly inevitable for Texas, it finally came at the 70:49 mark. With space through the middle of the pitch, Arnold started a long run from out of the back. Just outside the 18, the Round Rock, Texas, native unleashed a low shot that beat the keeper inside the right post allowing the Horns to nab a 2-0 advantage.

From there it was basically left to see if UT could add to its lead or if UALR could get back in the match. Out-shot 15-1 over the second half, it wasn't until five seconds remained before substitute Lexus VanPelt registered the Trojans' lone shot of the final stanza as Texas finished off a two-goal victory.

The final road-trip of the 2014 regular-season awaits the Horns this weekend as UT ventures out on the road to face Oklahoma (Fri., Oct. 24, 7 p.m. CT) and Baylor (Sun., Oct. 26, 6 p.m. CT).

Post-Match Quotes

Head Coach Angela Kelly

On getting a win: "I think it's always important to get back on the field and just move forward and erase those thoughts. It's not for a lack of creating opportunities for ourselves, and I think tonight we had 29 shots, which is the most this season and 11 on the face. Rule of thumb is you always try to get 30% of your shot total on the face. That's pretty good right there. We're happy with that. Credit to their goalkeeper. Their goalkeeper made some fantastic saves. I just enjoy watching the soccer that we were playing – the possession and speed of play. I challenged them at halftime for a faster speed of play – quicker rhythm. Our playmakers took care of the ball for us, and I thought our front runners really went at them and stretched them. I was pleased with Kelsey [Shimmick], Sharis [Lachappelle], and Chantale [Campbell] on how we started the game and how we finished the game."

On starting the game with a goal: "It's huge. That's what every team in the country is trying to do at the beginning of every match. I've noticed more this year than any year, even the English Premier League, the team that scores first usually wins the match. That tells you a few things. It tells you momentum is really important, but it also tells you that teams are well-organized defensively. The game has evolved tactically. That's a credit to the level of play and that coaches are bringing in a higher level of talent."

Senior D Julie Arnold

On scoring first career goal: "It felt great. I didn't want to be the only player to come through Texas and not score one goal. It was great. It was really fun and I enjoyed it. All my teammates were great and really celebrated with me."

On improvements: "It's good to be back in the win column again. We had two losses before that, so it's good to win again. We played well tonight. We moved the ball well, so I think that's huge momentum for us going forward. Now we have to prepare for Friday and Oklahoma."