Soccer drops 2-0 decision at USF

Sunday, September 14

Tampa, Fla.

10:30 a.m.

University of Texas

4-2-2

South Florida

4-3-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Texas	0	0	0
USF	1	1	2

09.14.2014 | Soccer

Box Score

Physical match sees 20 combined fouls, numerous player collisions and three yellow cards issued.

TAMPA, Fla. -- A 32nd-minute goal by forward Olivia Chance and a late penalty kick proved enough to guide USF (4-3-1) to a 2-0 victory over Texas (4-2-2) on Sunday afternoon at Corbett Soccer Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

The Bulls out-shot the Horns by a 21-14 total and 7-4 in shots on goal, while UT managed an 11-4 corner kick advantage. The extremely physical match was marred by 20 combined fouls, 14 of those on USF, numerous player collisions and three total yellow cards.

With Texas owning the majority of the early possession, the Horns registered the match's initial shot during the sixth minute as a pass from the middle to the left wing by senior midfielder Sharis Lachappelle located sophomore forward Jasmine Hart. The Haltom City, Texas, native eluded a defender, via a quick move to her right, and fired a low drive that was corralled on a dive by USF keeper Katarina Elliott.

USF eventually settled into the match, mounting some sustained pressure in the 23rd minute while earning its first corner of the match. With a feed into the middle bouncing around among the crowd out front, Bulls forward Jordyn Listro fired a shot that hit the side netting, fooling many spectators in attendance into thinking they had witnessed the first goal.

The Longhorns' best opportunity of the first half came in the 28th minute as junior forward Kelsey Shimmick made a strong run up the right wing and delivered a great cross to the middle. Freshman forward Olivia Brook came charging into the play near the top of the 18, but got a little too far under her headed effort, popping the ball over the crossbar for a goal kick.

The Bulls managed to break the scoreless dead-lock at 31:43 as midfielder Chance scored from about 10 yards out on the left wing. UT junior net minder Abby Smith, who made five saves in the match, had initially charged off her line to defend a shot and went down briefly following a harsh collision with a USF player. With the net mouth virtually unguarded, the ball ricocheted around before winding up at the feet of Chance who finished into the right side of the twine.

The physicality was really cranked up in the second half as both teams battled hard for possession. Neither offense managed a serious scoring threat over the first 20 minutes of the second stanza as the defenses consistently cleared away any potential danger.

USF had an opportunity off a corner in the 67th minute as Ocean Parr saw the ball fall to her feet about 12 yards out on the right wing. Her drive never troubled Smith, however, as the shot traveled well high of frame.

Texas mounted some sustained pressure of its own from the 67th through 70th minutes by earning a pair of corners. Senior defender Brooke Gilbert managed a pair of strong headers, but both shots traveled wide left of frame.

With 18:38 remaining in the contest, the Horns were judged to have committed a foul inside the 18. USF forward Demi Stokes stepped to the spot and converted the resulting penalty kick to seal the Bulls' 2-0 victory.

Texas now returns to the friendly confines of Mike A. Myers Stadium for a stern test against No. 1 and defending national champion UCLA on Friday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Central. The high-profile contest is slated for live broadcast on Longhorn Network.