Soccer dominates action in defeating Abilene Christian, 2-1

Sunday, September 13

Austin, Texas

1 p.m.

University of Texas

3-2-2

Abilene Christian

1-6-1

ACU

Texas

Soccer dominates action in defeating Abilene Christian, 2-1

09.13.2015 | Soccer

Box Score

Longhorns push unbeaten streak to a season-high three matches with victory over the Wildcats

AUSTIN, Texas – A 70th minute goal from senior midfielder Lindsey Meyer and redshirt freshman Mikayla Flores' first career regular-season score pushed Texas' season-best unbeaten streak to three matches as the Longhorns (3-2-2) defeated Abilene Christian (1-6-1) on a beautiful Sunday at Mike A. Myers Stadium, 2-1.

Meyer's team-leading second goal of the campaign came via header off a long free kick assist by junior midfielder Julia Dyche, while Flores scored her first career match-winner off a cross from senior forward Kelsey Shimmick at 70:40. For both Dyche and Shimmick, the assists marked their first helpers of the 2015 season. Senior goalkeeper Abby Smith made five more saves to improve her Big 12 Conference-leading total to 43.

Texas dominated in every major statistical category, leading the Wildcats in total shots (26-9), shots on goal (14-6) and corner kicks (12-1). The shots marked the most in a single match for UT since putting up 29 in a win over Little Rock on Oct. 20, 2014, while the 14 shots on frame were the most since directing 14 on net in a victory at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Sept. 5, 2014.

"I think we had 26 shots, 14 of those on the face," Texas head coach Angela Kelly said. "Credit to the goalkeeper (Sydney Newton) that started the game for Abilene Christian, she had tremendous saves. She made it really difficult for us to find the back of the net. These are the types of games where you just have to will the ball into the back of the net and continue to stay consistent and persistent. I thought we did a good job of that. Certainly the two goals in the second half were great and Mikayla Flores from Kelsey Shimmick… that was a fantastic goal."

Action got right underway from the opening kick-off as both teams forced saves over the first 2:08 of regulation.

ACU created the first chance as forward Megan Baer forced an easy Smith stop after not being able to get much power on a shot from the middle of the 18. Meanwhile, Flores made a move to beat the defense near the left post and fired a drive from 10 yards that was saved by Newton.

The Longhorns had the run of play throughout the opening 45 minutes with shots from Dyche (6:14) and freshman midfielder Katie Glenn (23:17) drifting wide of net.

The shooting gallery continued soon after as freshman forward Alexa Adams had a shot blocked and sophomore forward Olivia Brook had a header stopped at the back post from 10 yards.

Off the second of consecutive UT corners during the 27th minute, the ball dropped at the feet of Dyche in the middle of the 18. The Southlake, Texas, native slid and launched a shot on net, but it was stopped by Newton.

Texas almost nabbed the lead in the 32nd minute as a flurry of consecutive shots inside the 18 included a saved Flores try at the right post, a blocked Dyche shot off a rebound and a Glenn effort from 16 yards that was deflected away on a Newton dive to her left.

ACU had an opportunity for a quick break at 34:16 as a ball up the right wing was fed into the middle of the 18. One Wildcat whiffed on a shot attempt from 12 yards out, but the ball continued on through the crowd to the feet of Danielle Otto. She fired quickly on frame, but again Smith was positioned perfectly to snuff out any danger.

Over the remaining 11 minutes of first half action, Texas junior forward Jasmine Hart (two shots), Flores and Glenn combined to force three more Newton stops as the two teams went to the break knotted at 0-0.

The Burnt Orange & White pressure continued out of the locker room as Glenn launched a drive from the top of the 18 that was saved at 46:29.

Just 1:38 later, a header from the top of the 18 by Adams dropped in front of Shimmick in some space in the middle. The Grapevine, Texas, product attempted a back-heeled shot from eight yards, but her effort deflected off a Texas player in front. A follow-up try from Glenn went high over the crossbar for a goal kick.

The Wildcats swung the momentum briefly their way from the 52nd to the 55th minutes as a shot by forward Lindsey Jones from 16 yards went wide left and an attempt by midfielder Sophie Standifer deflected in on goal to be routinely stopped by Smith.

With all of the Texas pressure, it appeared just a matter of time before the Longhorns got on the board. The go-ahead score finally came at 69:01 as UT earned a free kick from approximately 40 yards out on the right wing. Dyche played a perfect ball into the middle of the 18 where Meyer was waiting in a crowd. The Coppell, Texas, native out-jumped everyone and headed a ball past ACU's keeper Newton from seven yards out to make it 1-0.

It took just 1:39 for the Longhorns to extend their advantage to two goals. A long ball played out of the defensive backline was driven up the left wing to Shimmick. She made a quick move to the middle around her marker and crossed towards the back post. Racing in quickly was Flores, and the La Verne, Calif., product buried her first career goal into the twine on a running volley from just five yards out.

The Wildcats wouldn't go down without a fight, however, pulling a goal back at 77:03 as a UT defensive turnover ended up in a 1-v-1 score from the foot of Standifer.

From there Texas went into time-wasting mode, running off precious seconds again and again while ACU failed to register even a single shot over the remaining 12:57 of regulation.

TEXAS POST-MATCH QUOTES

Head coach Angela Kelly

On staying competitive moving forward…

"Yeah, there was no reference of Thursday evening [vs. Oregon State]. This has been a tough schedule, and at this point there is a reality of the scenario. There's 45 minutes, and we've got to continue to push to get one in the back of the net. That was more of the message, and more to just being able to put a team away. I thought we did a good job at creating those chances for ourselves in the second half for sure."

On practicing set-piece situations like the one that led to Lindsey Meyer's goal…

"Yeah, we have targets, and we have set pieces that are really the difference. And in high level games, set pieces and free kicks are where you can separate yourself. We spend a good amount of time talking about scenarios and setting up our set pieces. And obviously Lindsey's great in the air. I'm just really happy for them."

Senior midfielder Lindsey Meyer

On her goal…

"Julia (Dyche) just played a great ball, and I ran to the right spot and just got it on frame… just like Coach Kelly always tells us."

On what led to the offensive effort…

"I think we kept the ball really well. Our forwards did a good job of holding the ball. Everyone played good balls in behind so that let them be able to get in line. That's how we got a bunch of corners and how we got shots like that."

On positioning…

"Just when I'm checking the ball to always be face up and open to the field so that I can see the whole field when I need to."

Redshirt freshman forward Mikayla Flores

On her first career goal…

"It felt pretty good. Amazing. So I'm excited about that. Kelsey (Shimmick) played a great ball right to my feet, and I just hit it in."

On the competitiveness of the team…

"Yeah, I think we came out with the mentality to go forward and keep the ball and look for the back of the net. So it turned out okay."

On Coach Kelly's pregame talk…

"Yeah, before the game she said, 'Go out there, take your chances, hit the face…' and I think we definitely showed that with our shot ratio."