Soccer rallies late to down Baylor, 2-1

Sunday, October 26

Waco, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Texas

10-6-2, 4-3-0Big 12

Baylor

8-7-2, 2-4-1Big 12

Texas

Baylor

10.26.2014 | Soccer

Box Score

Sophomore midfielder Julia Dyche scores match-winner with just 30 seconds left

WACO, Texas – Sophomore midfielder Julia Dyche's goal with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation completed Texas' stirring comeback from an early deficit as the Longhorns (10-6-2, 4-3-0 Big 12 Conference) rallied past Baylor (8-7-2, 2-4-1 Big 12), 2-1.

The Burnt Orange & White out-shot the Bears by a 12-10 total and managed a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks. Junior midfielder Lindsey Meyer contributed her third goal of the year, while Dyche's score was her second of 2014. Senior defender Brooke Gilbert and junior forward Chantale Campbell were credited with their second and third assists of the season, respectively. Junior goalkeeper Abby Smith made four saves for the Horns while again playing all 90 minutes between the pipes.

"I think it's huge anytime in the modern game that you can get two league wins on the road," Texas head coach Angela Kelly said. "Often, the team that scores first wins. It's difficult to come back from a deficit as teams organize differently from a tactical standpoint after they put the ball in the back of the net. I'm so incredibly proud of the character of this team. They continue to believe, and continue to be resilient. In this league with the competition at such a high level, to come away with two road league wins is a tremendous achievement."

"Well, basically we'd been battling back the whole second half," Dyche said. "Cierra (Grubbs) did a really good job of earning a free kick, and when it was played in, the team kept the ball rattling around in the box. I ran up, and honestly, just kicked the ball as hard as I could, and it went in. This is really big for us to get two wins on the road. It helps continue our momentum and keeps our confidence high heading into the Oklahoma State match next week."

After battling throughout the midfield over the opening five minutes, it was Baylor that recorded the match's first truly dangerous scoring opportunity. Following a foul against the Horns committed about 40 yards out in the middle of the pitch, a subsequent feed was delivered into a crowd stationed just outside the six-yard box. Smith leapt in an attempt to punch the ball and could manage only light contact. With the ball ricocheting around among the players in front, Bri Campos somehow managed to get a shot through the congestion, granting Baylor a 1-0 lead just 5:41 into the match.

The Horns really started to settle into the contest in the 16th-minute, earning back-to-back corners against the Bears. UT's first shots of the contest were contributed by senior midfielder Sharis Lachappelle (15:23) and Meyer (16:00), but those tries were high of frame and blocked, respectively.

In the 23rd-minute, Texas came exceptionally close to an equalizer as Dyche's ambitious effort from about 30 yards out in the middle rattled off the crossbar and ventured over the left end line for a goal kick.

With time in the first half beginning to run short, Baylor forward Natalie Huggins worked hard to find some space in the 37th-minute, making a move from the right wing towards the middle of the 18. Her drive appeared to take a small deflection off a Texas defender, however, traveling straight into the waiting arms of Smith. Just a couple of minutes later, a BU delivery from the right side almost located a hard-charging Anja Rosales at the back post, but the pass arrived about a half-second too early for her to get off a shot.

Baylor nearly doubled its advantage just 1:49 into the second stanza as a shot by Huggins from the top of the 18 just missed finding the upper right corner of the twine. Just 1:19 later, a shot from the left wing by midfielder Justine Hovden skimmed past the right post and went out of play for a goal kick.

A nice through ball from junior forward Kelsey Shimmick played senior forward Cierra Grubbs into some space up the right wing during the 50th-minute, but the Gladewater, Texas, native's shot attempt from a sharp angle was struck high of frame.

Texas continued to press hard for an equalizer, earning its fourth corner kick of the contest at 58:21. When the ball was delivered into the crowd out front by Lachappelle, Gilbert conducted her own individual assault on the BU goal from the middle of the 18, eventually directing a pair of solid headers towards net that were blocked out front.

Off a Texas free kick taken by Dyche in the 64th-minute, Meyer skied above the crowd inside the 18 to head a shot at goal, but her drive traveled right to net minder Michelle Kloss.

With set pieces proving dangerous for both teams, it proved to be a Baylor foul that helped lead to Texas' equalizer at 74:27. Gilbert took a free kick from 40 yards out and delivered a great ball towards the left post. Meyer again leapt above the crowd, heading home a shot from 10 yards out to dead-lock the match at 1-1.

Closing in on what seemed to be an inevitable overtime session, the end came suddenly with just 30 seconds remaining on the clock. Grubbs worked hard to earn a foul and free kick near the left end line. When the ball was delivered into the box, it pin-balled around among several players before bouncing to Dyche. She stepped into the shot, blasting the match-winner home at 89:30 to finish off the stunning Texas victory.