Soccer back in win column after 2-0 triumph at Texas State

Sunday, September 21

San Marcos, Texas

7 p.m.

University of Texas

5-3-2

Texas State

5-3-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Texas	1	1	2
Texas State	0	0	0

Soccer back in win column after 2-0 triumph at Texas State

09.21.2014 | Soccer

Box Score

Goals from Hart and Lachappelle power Longhorns offense.

SAN MARCOS, Texas -- Goals from sophomore forward Jasmine Hart and senior midfielder Sharis Lachappelle powered Texas' (5-3-2) return to the win column on Sunday night at the Bobcat Soccer Complex as UT defeated Texas State (5-3-1), 2-0.

The Longhorns out-shot the Bobcats by a 26-14 total, while managing an 8-3 advantage on corner kicks. The goals for Hart and Lachappelle were their second and first of the campaign, respectively. Junior goalkeeper Abby Smith tied a career-high by making eight saves in the contest, equaling her output against Texas Tech back on Oct. 12, 2012.

"Texas State battled," Texas head coach Angela Kelly said. "We knew coming in tonight that this match would be a battle. I was pleased with our overall effort, and you know, a win is a win. We still have a ton of things to work on, but I'm proud of our team for finishing our non-conference schedule in a positive way. We did some things tonight that were really attractive to watch. Our speed of play was good at times. We had two good goals, and then Kelsey (Shimmick) struck one that hit the crossbar, and I thought hit at an angle over the line. Overall, I'm just pleased with the result."

Inspired by one of the program's largest crowds in history (1,153), the Bobcats had the best of the early going. The TSU offense owned the majority of the possession over the first four minutes but failed to register a single shot.

Texas soon cranked up the offensive pressure, however, with arguably the brightest chance to that point coming in the 11th minute. Junior forward Kelsey Shimmick took off on a dynamic run up the left wing as teammate Hart sprinted quickly up the right. With a 2-on-1 situation potentially brewing, a bad touch betrayed the Horns, allowing the Bobcat defense time to recover as Shimmick could managed only a blocked shot.

It wasn't long until the dynamic forward duo of Shimmick and Hart did grant the Longhorns the lead. Shimmick made another bombing foray up the left side and crossed to the middle. Hart battled her marker about seven yards out to finish off a side-footed effort, that just trickled across the line at 13:27, to grant Texas a 1-0 lead.

After a prolonged period of Texas dominance, Texas State finally managed some pressure of its own during the 22nd minute. A missed defensive clearance in the UT backline allowed the opportunity for Bobcat forward Lynsey Curry to fire a shot into the side netting. Just 57 seconds later at 22:46, the first TSU corner of the match resulted in a slow-rolling shot from about 30 yards out in the middle that was easily corralled by Smith.

Texas had another great chance in the 39th minute as substitute Katie Gernsbacher fought a defender up the right wing before crossing a ball into the 18. Her pass ended up right at the feet of freshman forward Olivia Brook, but the Houston, Texas, native's shot from about 10 yards out in the middle traveled right at keeper Rinehart for a save.

With the contest opening up during the early portion of the second half, each team managed shots on frame. Junior forward Chantale Campbell danced through a pair of defenders to fire a drive on frame at 51:17, while Texas State's Curry had a shot out front blocked and saved at 55:17.

Texas had a great chance go awry in the 59th minute as Caitlynn Rinehart raced way off her line attempting to clear a ball at the top of the 18. Her clearance was mishit and traveled straight to the feet of Shimmick on the right wing. The UT player dribbled once and fired, but a Texas State defender managed to step in front to block the open net.

Corner kicks have been the lifeblood of the Longhorn offense in 2014, and at 60:11, one paid dividends. Campbell took the kick from the right corner, and her cross located Lachappelle out front of the far post. The senior midfielder headed home from 12 yards out to grant Texas a 2-0 lead.

Over the next few minutes, UT nearly added to their lead but were twice denied by the woodwork. Hart fired a shot from the left wing at 60:46 that rattled off the crossbar and Shimmick followed soon after at 63:41 with a drive from the right side that hit the underside of the bar, bounced straight down near the line and was cleared.

With 17:30 left, Texas State's Chandler Cooney registered back-to-back shots to force one Smith save. No long after that incident, Smith fumbled a cross briefly and was forced to race out to mark Maddie Nichols, who had taken possession, step-for-step. With the goal effectively uncovered at 81:30, Nichols lobbed a shot that was cleared off the line via header by junior midfielder Lindsey Meyer.

From there Texas worked hard to run out the clock, securing the squad's fifth victory of the campaign via the 2-0 win over the Bobcats.

Next up for the Longhorns is the start of Big 12 Conference play with Texas welcoming nationally-ranked Texas Tech (Friday, Sept. 26; 7 p.m. Central) and West Virginia (Sunday, Sept. 28; 1 p.m. Central) venture to Mike A. Myers Stadium. Both matches are slated for live broadcast on Longhorn Network, while live updates will be provided through the official Texas Soccer Twitter account @TexasSoccer.