The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
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Kansas
Soccer gets important win on the road at Kansas, 2-1
10.02.2015 | Soccer
Goals by Olivia Brook and Lindsey Meyer lead the Longhorns to their first Big 12 victory of 2015
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Second-half set-piece goals from sophomore forward Olivia Brook and senior midfielder Lindsey Meyer were the difference on a chilly Friday night at Rock Chalk Park as Texas (4-3-3, 1-1-0 Big 12 Conference) secured its first league victory of the season by downing Kansas (5-5-1, 0-1-0 Big 12), 2-1.
UT took the lead in the contest at 71:29 on the first goal of the season and eighth career score from Brook, while Meyer's tally at 76:43 marked her team-leading third goal of the campaign as well as the match-winner. Meyer, freshman midfielder Kayra Dollas (first career assist and point) and junior midfielder Julia Dyche (second helper of the year) all picked up single assists.
Senior goalkeeper Abby Smith made four saves as Kansas out-shot Texas by a 13-11 count. Each team managed five shots on goal, while the Horns led 5-3 on corners.
"It was a battle," Texas head coach Angela Kelly said. "That's the way it's going to be against every conference opponent. The Big 12 is so challenging from top to bottom. To get a road win in this league is an exceptional feat. I'm just really proud of all our young ladies for their effort tonight."
Kansas managed the first opportunities of the match for either team during the fourth and fifth minutes. First, midfielder Parker Roberts was wide left on a try from eight yards out at 3:10 and then midfielder Grace Hagan shot from just inside the top of the box at 4:22, but the attempt was easily saved by Smith.
The Jayhawks offense again proved dangerous during the ninth minute as a lengthy drive from 22 yards out on the right wing by forward Ashley Williams forced Smith to leap and tip the ball up and over the crossbar for a corner.
Texas soon began settling into the match, getting off its first shot at the 14:31 mark. A cross played in from the right side found Dollas stationed near the right post. With the Orange, Calif., native relatively unmarked, she quickly launched a header from eight yards out. Unfortunately, the attempt traveled straight into the waiting arms of Kansas goalkeeper Maddie Dobyns for her first save.
UT's momentum continued over the next few minutes as Dyche tried a header of her own that was wide left at 18:29. The Horns soon earned their first corner of the match at 19:36.
Longhorns sophomore midfielder Morgan Murphy tried her luck from 36 yards out with 1:40 left in the half as her well-struck effort forced Dobyns to make her third stop of the contest.
Out of the halftime break, KU got a high effort from Roberts just 41 seconds in, while Texas earned a corner in the 47th minute that resulted in no shots.
Neither team created much in the way of offensive chances until Roberts struck one wide at the 59:14 mark.
Brook just missed pushing the Burnt Orange & White to the lead in the 65th minute as her contested shot from outside the top of the 18, while being pulled backwards, rolled just outside the right post.
Perhaps UT's best offensive flurry to that point came in the 67th and 68 minutes. Dyche delivered a long free kick in from the right side that landed inside the 18. Meyer tried a header, but her attempt was blocked by her marker. A follow-up header from 12 yards out by redshirt freshman forward Mikayla Flores and a lengthy try from senior midfielder Chantale Campbell were each deflected away by the KU defense.
Texas finally broke in front at 71:29 off a set piece. Campbell delivered a feed off a free kick into the middle of the 18. Meyer headed the ball towards the left post where it was deflected over to the right side of the six by Dollas. Waiting at the right post were freshman forward Alexa Adams and Brook, with the latter deflecting the ball into the twine from three yards out for her first score of the campaign.
It took just 5:14 for the Longhorns to double their lead to 2-0. Dyche delivered a perfect corner feed into the middle of the 18. Meyer leapt and headed a shot down that bounced through the crowd out front before rolling into the net.
The sudden offensive fireworks continued at 79:36 as a ball played from the middle to the right wing by Kansas deflected and rolled in towards frame. Smith raced off her line and dove attempting to corral the ball as Hagan arrived. Contact between the pair helped jar the ball out of the keeper's hands as KU's midfielder finished into an open net from six yards out allowing the Jayhawks to cut their deficit to 2-1.
From there Texas' defense clamped down on Kansas, refusing to allow a single shot over the final 10:24 as the Longhorns picked up an important league road victory.
