Soccer continues unbeaten strings with 2-0 victory over Montana

Sunday, September 7

Austin, Texas

7:30 p.m.

University of Texas

4-0-2

Montana

3-3-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Montana	0	0	0
Texas	0	2	2

Soccer continues unbeaten strings with 2-0 victory over Montana

09.07.2014 | Soccer

Box Score

Longhorns unbeaten through first six matches for only the second time in program history.

AUSTIN, Texas -- On Sunday night at Mike A. Myers Stadium, Texas got a clutch penalty kick goal at 66:14 from senior defender Brooke Gilbert and a clinching, 90th-minute score from junior forward Chantale Campbell to continue its unbeaten start to the 2014 campaign with a 2-0 victory over Montana (3-3-0).

At 4-0-2, the Longhorns remain unbeaten through their opening six matches to start a season for only the second time in program history after the 2008 UT squad began the year at 5-0-1. The Burnt Orange & White is also unbeaten over its last 13 matches in the friendly confines of Mike A. Myers Stadium dating back to the beginning of the 2013 campaign.

Gilbert now possesses four goals on the year, two of those of the penalty kick variety, on just five total shots, while Campbell's score marked her second of the season. Junior goalkeeper Abby Smith made a pair of saves in posting her third clean sheet of the season and the 18th of her career.

Texas out-shot the Grizzlies by a total of 23-6 for the match with a 14-1 advantage over the second 45 minutes of play. UT also managed a commanding 10-1 lead on penalty kicks.

"It's kind of been that way this weekend (discussing the second half outburst), where sometimes, you just grind it out," Texas head coach Angela Kelly said. "We're in the third or fourth weekend of the season, and we've traveled many miles, coming from Hawaii during the opening weekend and having a Monday game two of those weeks. Those instances make for shorter turnarounds before the next match. There are a lot of intangibles that can make for a tougher Sunday. It's great to play under the lights, but it was just a longer day for them today. These are all things we need to be prepared for -- lightning delays, long days -- because this is an outdoor sport. We're pleased with the win, and I've always said it's much better to teach off of a win than a loss."

Montana wasted little time making its presence felt over the first 8:38 as UM managed three of its six total shots in the match and both of its drives on frame. The most troubling was a blast by forward Mackenzie Akins, just 1:32 in, that rattled off the crossbar.

The Longhorns settled in after the quick Montana start with senior defender Whitney Jaynes and junior midfielder Sharis Lachappelle managing eighth and 10th minute shots, respectively, that ventured wide.

Julia Dyche demonstrated some of the trouble she would later provide the Grizzlies by launching a pair of shots wide of frame at 13:53 and 16:08.

The best chance for Texas during the opening stanza came at 17:48 as a beautiful feed from Campbell out on the right wing located freshman forward Olivia Brook in a lot of space about 14 yards out in the middle of the 18. The Houston, Texas, native measured her header, but sent it just over the crossbar for a goal kick.

Following an extended period of midfield play, Montana again threatened during the 33rd minute. Substitute Savannah Witt corralled a ball in the middle of the 18, turned quickly against her marker and fired a shot that rattled off the outside of the left upright as the two teams would eventually head to the break scoreless.

Out of the halftime locker room, Texas cranked up the offensive pressure. Smith got things started with one of her patented 40-plus-yard free kicks, as her blast from the right wing forced a save by Montana keeper Kailey Norman.

With the Longhorn offense buzzing in UM territory in the 60th minute, Dyche took the ball to the right end line and crossed to the far post. Lachappelle got to it a half a step late as her header drifted just wide of the left upright.

Finally in the 67th minute, Dyche took a feed from Campbell on the right side of the 18 and moved quickly towards the middle of the pitch. After eluding a defender, the Southlake, Texas, product was taken down, giving the referee no alternative but to point to the spot. Gilbert was again called upon to finish off the spot kick and tucked it away in the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

The Grizzlies weren't going to go away without a fight as a troublesome shot by UM's Akins at the 68:13 mark was tipped over the crossbar by Smith.

With the Horns firing away down the stretch, the insurance goal finally came with just seconds remaining. Receiving the ball about 35 yards out from goal on the right side of the pitch, Campbell launched a drive that somehow found its way into the top left corner of the netting, sealing the 2-0 victory.

Texas now ventures back out onto the road, traveling to Tampa, Fla., for the USF Soccer Classic over Sept. 12 and 14. UT will face nationally-ranked UCF on Friday at 3:30 p.m. Central, before battling home standing USF on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Central.