The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
4-3-4, 1-1-1
Oklahoma State
5-6-2, 0-2-2
Soccer ties at Oklahoma State, 0-0 (2OT)
10.04.2015 | Soccer
Longhorns complete an unbeaten road weekend in Big 12 play at Kansas and OSU (1-0-1)
STILLWATER, Okla. – Senior goalkeeper Abby Smith made six vital saves on Sunday at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex to preserve her 28th career shutout as Texas (4-3-4, 1-1-1 Big 12 Conference) finished off an unbeaten weekend in league action with a 0-0 (2OT) tie at Oklahoma State (5-6-2, 0-2-2 Big 12).
With the shutout, Smith now requires just two more blankings to break the school career record in the category held by former Longhorns keeper Dianna Pfenninger (29 from 2005-08).
"As I mentioned on Friday night, playing an away match in our league is always very challenging," Texas head coach Angela Kelly said. "It is critical to collect points on the road where you can get them in Big 12 play. Now, it's back to work and organizing to get the job done at home next weekend against Iowa State and TCU."
OSU out-shot UT in the match by a 22-11 count, led 6-4 in total shots on goal and held an 11-5 advantage in corner kicks. Freshman forward Alexa Adams guided the Longhorns' offense with three shots in the contest, including one on frame.
Texas had the best of the match's early possession with Adams managing the first shot of the match for either team at 5:22 on a half bicycle-style kick from 14 yards out that rolled wide right.
The Cowgirls finally managed their initial shot off a set piece during the 16th minute. Defender Kelsey Bass delivered a ball in that was deflected back out towards the top of the box. Waiting was defender Delaney Kiely to try a long header, but her attempt proved well wide right.
Action picked up in the 21st minute as Texas senior midfielder Chantale Campbell tried her luck from 30-plus yards off a free kick. Her shot was solid, forcing a diving deflection by OSU keeper Michela Ongaro. Just seconds later, a Longhorns cross deflected off the bar and bounced straight out front. Senior midfielder Lindsey Meyer had the ball fall at her feet and launched a quick shot that was stopped.
On the other end, Oklahoma State midfielder Allie Stephenson forced Smith into her first real action at the 22:10 mark as a drive forced UT's net minder to make a leaping catch in the center of frame.
During the 27th minute, a turnover inside Texas' defensive end put the Horns in some trouble facing a potential 2-on-1 situation. UT's "D" rallied, however, to clear the ball out of danger after an OSU cross from the right wing failed to result in anything.
OSU earned a free kick off a foul in a dangerous position out on the left wing during the 38th minute. A searching feed was delivered in towards the back post, but Smith quickly raced off her line to corral the ball before a Cowgirl player could sneak in behind the play.
Smith attempted her trademark midfield blast for the Horns at the 41:50 mark and got some steam on a try, forcing Ongaro into a leap to make a tough catch.
Out of the halftime break, Oklahoma State began to take more control of the action, earning a corner kick during the 50th minute. Bass fed the ball into the middle of the 18 that located the head of midfielder Tori Ruszkowski. Her effort may very well have scraped the outside of the left upright in bouncing just wide of frame.
The Cowgirls continued to pressure in the 63rd minute as forward Madison Mercado broke into some space facing a 1-v-1 situation against UT's keeper. Smith saved the day for the Longhorns, racing out and managing to get her right leg on the shot to deflect it away.
Just 33 seconds later, Smith was at it again for Texas, leaping high to tip a Stephenson drive up and over the cross bar to force an OSU corner kick.
A UT foul just outside the right edge of the 18 with 17:12 left set the Cowgirls up with a dangerous opportunity to break in front. A feed into the middle located Anna Beffer in space, but her shot was blocked over the end line by the Texas defense for a corner.
Texas sophomore forward Olivia Brook launched a shot from a tough angle on the left side with 8:51 remaining, but it was blocked. On a quick UT follow-up break, a pass to Adams on the wing was eventually fired in on frame at 82:03, but Ongaro smothered it at the left post for a save.
With just 1:55 remaining in regulation, OSU came within inches of scoring a late match-winner as Dike hit the left post with a shot from eight yards away. Smith reacted quickly to cover up the rebound off the woodwork and prevent any follow-up efforts.
The Cowgirl pressure continued into the first "sudden victory" OT as Dike forced another Smith save on a shot from 14 yards out at 93:59.
UT's standout net minder prevented an almost certain "golden goal" at 96:08 as Oklahoma State's Mercado broke into space on the left side and fired virtually point blank. Smith raced off her line to cut down the angle and deflected the shot with her right arm.
The Burnt Orange & White earned a free kick off a handball out on the left side with just seconds left in the first OT, but couldn't get off a shot as the feed into the middle of the 18 was cleared away.
Texas had a good spell of offensive pressure over the opening 30 seconds of the second OT as shots from Campbell and junior midfielder Julia Dyche were blocked and high of frame, respectively.
Dyche tried again from long range just 1:31 later, but her attempt from 26 yards out drifted just a foot wide of the upper left corner of the twine.
The Horns had one final chance to secure the victory, earning a corner kick with under 10 seconds left. Unfortunately, the feed into the middle was punched away from danger by Ongaro as the contest ended in a 0-0 (2OT) dead-lock.
