The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
10-7-4
West Virginia
15-2-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT 4 | OT 5 | OT 6 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| West Virginia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Soccer falls on PK’s to No. 9 West Virginia in Big 12 semis
11.07.2014 | Soccer
Longhorns battle top-seeded Mountaineers to 0-0 (2OT) tie, lose 6-5 in PK’s
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On a chilly and blustery Friday evening in Big 12 Championship semifinal action at the Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Mo., Texas (10-7-4) battled valiantly over 110 minutes to secure a 0-0 (2OT) tie against top-seeded and No. 9 West Virginia (15-2-3) before ultimately falling in a decisive penalty kick shootout, 6-5.
The Longhorns now await their NCAA Tournament fate as the annual "Field of 64" will be announced live on NCAA.com at 3:30 p.m. CT on Mon., Nov. 10.
The Longhorns came extremely close to scoring in regulation but were twice victimized by the woodwork on crossbar strikes from junior forward Kelsey Shimmick (9:11) and junior midfielder Lindsey Meyer (77:28).
During the shootout round, each team was perfect through its opening three rounds of PK's before both UT junior goalkeeper Abby Smith and substitute WVU net minder Michelle Newhouse stopped the fourth attempts they faced. Neither team would miss again until Texas' seventh try was saved. The Mountaineers soon followed with a successful PK to survive and advance.
West Virginia out-shot Texas by a 24-10 count during the match, while junior goalkeeper Abby Smith registered eight saves in posting her eighth solo shutout of the 2014 campaign and the 23rd of her illustrious career.
"Every time I'm asked about my team following a match, I usually say the same thing," Texas head coach Angela Kelly said. "I say that I'm really proud of them. Well tonight I want everyone to know that I am really, really, really proud of our team. This group has heart, gives incredible effort and believes in what we are trying to accomplish. We have come so far this season and took a big step tonight. I want all of our players to know how proud we are of them and to realize how much we have left to accomplish this season. We played overtime matches against the No. 16 and No. 9-ranked teams in a 48-hour span and fought each of them to the bitter end. This team has obviously shown it can compete with the best teams in the nation, and we look forward to the NCAA Tournament draw on Monday."
It took just 1:15 for the Longhorns offense to exert their influence on the proceedings as senior midfielder Sharis Lachappelle made a strong run up the middle of the pitch. The San Antonio, Texas, native delivered a perfect ball through the backline, finding sophomore forward Jasmine Hart tightly marked inside the 18. The Haltom City, Texas, native drove towards the right post and fired a shot, while falling to the turf, which was smothered on a dive by Mountaineer starting goalkeeper Hannah Steadman.
West Virginia's offense moved right back down the field, registering a trio of shots over the next three minutes. Midfielder Amanda Hill forced a save by Smith, while defender Carly Black and forward Kailey Utley's efforts were blocked at 3:28 and 3:32, respectively.
Having Smith between the pipes paid dividends again for the Horns during the eighth minute as a long drive from outside the 18 by midfielder Amanda Hill was parried over the bar by UT's net minder.
Texas came within inches of taking the lead in the 10th minute after a WVU turnover in the midfield was corralled by Lachappelle. She played a through ball up the left wing to junior Kelsey Shimmick, who was locked in a foot race against her marker. The UT forward arrived to the ball first and drilled a shot from a tough angle that had beaten Steadman but rattled off the crossbar.
Both teams battled fiercely over the midfield territory throughout the half with each squad making numerous forays into opposing territory.
With 11:09 remaining in the opening frame, the Mountaineers earned their fourth corner of the match. The delivery was poor in the breezy conditions, however, landing on top of the crossbar and bouncing over the end line for a harmless goal kick.
Just 2:38 later, Texas managed its initial corner of the contest. Unfortunately on junior midfielder Chantale Campbell's delivery from the left corner, junior midfielder Lindsey Meyer, while battling fiercely among a large crowd in the box, couldn't direct her header on frame.
With the ball bouncing around inside the 18 during the 41st minute, Campbell, as she has done so often for Texas in Big 12 Championship matches, came close to putting UT on the scoreboard. The London, Ontario, Canada, native teed up a right-footed drive from the top of the box through a crowd of bodies, but it drifted barely wide of the right post.
Texas came out of the locker room inspired and controlled the possession over the opening five-plus minutes of the second half. Senior defender Julie Arnold took two long free kicks from the right wing with her second effort traveling just inches over the bar before landing on the top netting at 50:17.
Smith made perhaps the save of the match at the 60:00 mark, saving the Longhorns as a cross from the left end line into the middle fell to West Virginia's Kate Schwindel inside the six. The WVU forward fired a quick shot from point-blank range that UT's keeper somehow managed to tip straight up and over the crossbar.
West Virginia's Michaela Abam tried an ambitious effort from way out of the left wing in the 71st-minute and almost found the upper 90 as Smith was forced to make a play on it. Things were slightly nervy for the Horns as the ball briefly ricocheted back into the six-yard-box before UT's defense managed to clear it out of play.
With WVU's offense buzzing from the 71st to the 74th minute, earning a pair of corners and sending three shots wide of frame, it was the woodwork that was again unkind to the Longhorns in the 78th-minute. Off a Campbell free kick from deep in the left corner, Meyer's subsequent header from inside the 18 rattled off the crossbar and out of play.
UT's Hart managed to get in behind the defense again with less than six minutes left in regulation. A long ball was played just in front of her inside the 18, but the bounce proved diagonal, ricocheting off her arm to bring an end to the threat via hand ball.
West Virginia managed some last ditch pressure over the final minutes of regulation, but Texas cleared away every opportunity as the two squads headed to overtime scoreless.
Both teams had solid scoring chances during the first extra stanza. A quick shot from WVU defender Maggie Bedillion just 30 seconds into the OT was saved by Smith. For Texas, Lachappelle fought a tough battle to play a ball back to sophomore midfielder Julia Dyche outside the 18, and she launched from long distance. The hard-struck drive was on frame, but Steadman was positioned well to make a tough save.
Perhaps the best chance for the Horns in the overtime periods came from sophomore defender Isabelle Kerr. She turned quickly about 28 yards out on the right wing and launched a shot at 96:56 that just skimmed over the crossbar.
In the opening minute of the second OT, Meyer flicked a long header into the 18 that nearly found Hart in some space, but the Texas forward went down and no foul was called.
Both teams had final shots go awry of goal over the last five minutes, sending the 0-0 contest to the decisive shootout.
