Soccer downed on late Oklahoma State goal, 2-1

Friday, October 31

Austin, Texas

7 p.m.

University of Texas

10-7-2, 4-4-0Big 12

Oklahoma State

10-8-1, 5-2-1Big 12

Oklahoma State

Texas

10.31.2014 | Soccer

Box Score

Cowgirls net match winner with just 1:33 left in regulation

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AUSTIN, Texas – With overtime looming on "Senior Night" at Mike A. Myers Stadium and the woodwork twice unkind to the home team via UT shots ringing off both the post and crossbar, Oklahoma State (10-8-1, 5-2-1 Big 12) forward Courtney Dike registered the match-winning goal at 88:27 as the Cowgirls defeated Texas (10-7-2, 4-4-0 Big 12), 2-1.

With the loss, the Longhorns secured the fifth-seed in next week's Big 12 Championship at Swope Park in Kansas City, Kan., and will play fourth-seeded and nationally-ranked Texas Tech in quarterfinal action at 2 p.m. CT on Wed., Nov. 5.

UT junior goalkeeper Abby Smith established a new single-match career-high with 10 saves against the Cowgirls, while junior midfielder Lindsey Meyer led the Longhorns offense with six shots, two on frame. Oklahoma State out-shot Texas by a 22-15 total and managed a 12-7 advantage on corner kicks in the contest.

"I'm proud of the team," Texas head coach Angela Kelly said. "We battled and created a lot of opportunities. Oklahoma State is a dynamic team. Their front five are very good. There's lots of interchange. Courtney Dike is a fantastic player up top.

"I thought we picked it up in the second half. We hit a post in the first three minutes, we've got the goal called back in the seventh minute, and then we hit the crossbar with four minutes left and we had an opportunity to score with 10 seconds left. There was never any one of us that didn't think we were going to score. I'm just really proud of the battle. We had momentum, and then they scored the goal. Then we were able to keep pressure on and create the PK opportunity. Last week it went in our favor, but this week we just needed to be able to put one away."

Friday's match was wide-open from the very start with Texas having the best of the early going. Sophomore midfielder Julia Dyche blasted a shot off the left post just 2:11 into the contest, while just 1:22 later, it was Meyer forcing a Rosa Medina save off a header at the right upright.

It appeared that Texas had taken the lead during the sixth minute as a great combination play from Dyche to junior forward Kelsey Shimmick was headed into the twine from 10 yards out by senior midfielder Sharis Lachappelle. Unfortunately for the Burnt Orange & White, the linesman's flag was up signaling offsides to nullify the goal.

After surviving the early UT pressure, Oklahoma State finally began to settle into the match soon after as junior forward Madison Mercado forced a pair of saves by Smith at 7:42 and 9:59.

With the Cowgirl offense ratcheting up the pressure in the offensive third, it was Texas that gifted OSU its first score of the contest. On a cross in from the left wing, an attempted clearance via header near the left post was accidentally directed into the Horns' own net for a 1-0 Oklahoma State advantage at 12:41.

OSU continued to have the run of play over the next 15 minutes as it took a crucial block from senior defender Julie Arnold on a shot from four yards out by Dike at 28:06 to keep Texas within a single tally.

It was Shimmick that helped turn the tide for the Longhorns, firing a shot that was blocked in the 37th-minute before successfully drawing a foul inside the box at 38:34 to force the referee to point to the spot. Meyer stepped up and buried the penalty kick into the left side of the twine past the diving keeper, tying the count at 1-1.

Texas nearly grabbed the lead with 4:55 left in the opening half as a shot from a tough angle on the right wing by sophomore forward Jasmine Hart just skimmed by the left post.

It was Oklahoma State that came out of the locker room with the better of things in the early going of the final 45 minutes as Dike and Mercado each forced Smith saves.

Texas had the best chance over the initial 16 minutes of the second half, however, as a pass by Hart from the right end line found junior forward Chantale Campbell making a late run to the top of the 18. The London, Ontario, Canada, native teed up a shot but got just underneath the ball to send a great look over the bar.

Down the stretch each team had quality looks at goal with Texas senior defender Brooke Gilbert launching an ambitious try from out on the left side that forced a Medina save at 75:20.

It would be the last few minutes of regulation, however, that proved perhaps the most enthralling of the entire match. The fun started at 86:26 as a Texas cross into the middle was headed off the crossbar by Meyer before being cleared away by OSU.

Back on the other end, failing to clear its lines came back to haunt the Longhorns defense as a ball ricocheting around among players out in front dropped to the feet of Dike just outside the six-yard box. She managed to unleash a shot that beat Smith at 88:27.

Texas forced one final corner kick in the last 10 seconds, but was unable to get off a shot at goal as the clock ticked away to a 2-1 Cowgirl victory.