The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
West Virginia
Preview: Soccer at No. 5 West Virginia [Sept. 25, 2015]
09.23.2015 | Soccer
Longhorns look to extend their season-long four-match unbeaten streak while opening Big 12 play
Texas Game Notes at No. 5 West Virginia
Match #9: Texas (3-2-3) at No. 5 West Virginia (9-1-0)
Time: Friday, Sept. 25 – 6 p.m. CT
Location: Morgantown, W. Va. (Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium)
Buy Tickets: LINK
Live Stats: LINK
Television: West Virginia is expected to provide free live web-streamed video of Friday's match against the Longhorns here: LINK
Radio: No radio broadcast will be available for Friday's match at West Virginia
Free Kicks:
- West Virginia's starting goalkeeper will look very familiar to Texas head coach Angela Kelly as Hannah Steadman spent time as a freshman net minder (received no playing time) on Kelly's final roster at Tennessee back in 2011.
- Texas is 1-3-1 all-time in its series against West Virginia, winning the first meeting between the two teams in Austin back on Nov. 14, 2004, 2-1. UT has only traveled to Morgantown, W. Va., to play the Mountaineers on one previous occasion, losing 2-1 on Oct. 4, 2013.
- The Longhorns will enter action at No. 5 West Virginia with a four-match unbeaten streak in tow, the longest such skein for UT this year. The last time Texas was unbeaten over at least four matches was a six-match run starting last season from Aug. 22-Sept. 7, 2014 (4-0-2 over that span).
- This Friday's match at WVU begins Big 12 Conference play for the Longhorns. UT enters the match 11-7-1 all-time in Big 12 openers (having won three consecutive league openers) and is 5-5-0 in such contests on the road. Texas has yet to lose a Big 12 lid lifter under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Angela Kelly (2014, beat #6 Texas Tech, 1-0, OT; 2013, beat TCU, 2-0; 2012 won at Iowa State, 4-0).
- The Mountaineers will provide a significant challenge, entering Friday's contest against Texas with its defense riding a streak of eight consecutive shutouts dating back to Aug. 23 when they suffered their lone loss and allowed their only two opponent goals of the season in a 2-1 defeat to No. 13 Virginia Tech. Included in that stretch are wins over No. 5 Penn State (1-0) and at No. 15 Ohio State (2-0). Looking at the only common opponent between the two teams, Texas tied the then-No. 18 Buckeyes at Mike A. Myers Stadium, 0-0 (2OT), back on Aug. 30.
- UT senior goalkeeper Abby Smith has certainly been busy so far in 2015 as the Plano, Texas, native currently leads the Big 12 Conference in saves with 47. She also tops the league in saves-per-match at 5.88, a product of Texas' rugged early schedule.
- Besides goalkeeper Abby Smith, three players always seem to be penciled into the starting lineup. Senior midfielder Lindsey Meyer has started all 71 possible career matches at UT over her career, while junior defender Isabelle Kerr and junior midfielder Julia Dyche have made 31 consecutive starts.
Texas Media Availability Quotes – Sept. 23, 2015
Texas head soccer coach Angela Kelly
On starting Big 12 play on the road…
It's always difficult whether at home or on the road. West Virginia, being the perennial league champions over the last three years…they're a fantastic squad. We've got to be ready to go on Friday night.
On the challenges West Virginia brings…
They're dynamic, and they're well organized. Nikki has been there for close to 18 years and has won over 250 games, so she has the tradition behind her. Her players understand their philosophy and their style of play, and it's been ingrained in them. You have to credit and really observe tradition. We really have to bring our "A" game on Friday night.
On offensive struggles heading into West Virginia…
I'm not the least bit worried. You worry about not putting the ball in the back of the net if you weren't creating opportunities. In our last game we had 29 shots and many of them were on the face with eight saves for the goalkeeper. We're doing the things we need to do to get in front of the net, whether it be against UCLA, whether it be against North Carolina, whether it's going to be West Virginia on Friday night. Now we just have to have the fortitude, the composure and the organization to put the ball in the back of the net.
On what the team can learn about West Virginia from Texas' loss to North Carolina earlier in the season…
I think if you look at the players on each squad… UCLA, North Carolina and West Virginia… there would be a ton of All-Americans, there would be a ton of dynamic front-runners and there would be great defensive players. West Virginia has two players that played in the World Cup for Canada and did a tremendous job. So each one of the teams that we have played thus far have had All-American players and All-American performances. And that's why we played them out of conference. We're not here to shy away from any opponent, and I'm actually pretty excited to be able to get time with the team on the road. They've had a busy academic schedule this week with exams. It's always been good to take a deep breath, hang out with your teammates, be able to do some more preparation in the hotel and get their minds ready for Friday night.
On if the lack of offensive production is frustrating…
No, I think you could always use the negative verbiage or you always have the opportunity to use the inverse, which is the positive. And Ange Kelly is the eternal optimist. I'm not the least bit frustrated, I'm excited about the opportunities. Now the emphasis is on mentality and getting the job done.
On facing two World Cup starters, West Virginia's Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence…
We played them last year. Not so different than the national team players at UCLA or the host of national players that North Carolina currently has. You just have to respect every opponent. We've seen dynamic front-runners, we've seen mobility in the midfield, we've seen outside and center backs that want to go forward. We've had the best performances from (opposing) goalkeepers in every game we've played. Their goalkeepers have played fantastic against us. So we're expecting that; we're Texas and we're going to get everybody's "A" game. And now it's time to make sure our "A" game is present as well.
Texas senior goalkeeper Abby Smith
On Texas getting shutout last match against Little Rock: It happens. It's a part of the game. I think we are excited about going into conference, so we are definitely looking forward to that.
On going up against West Virginia after last week's play: There is not really much pressure on us. I think it's the fact that we are excited going into conference because conference is always fun, and it's always a new beginning.
On opening Big 12 play on the road: It's exciting. It just happens, because that's how the schedule comes out, and you just have to prepare to play. You don't know until the schedule is released. We are excited to go out there and excited to play with the conference season under way.
On the challenges West Virginia poses: Our focus is always on ourselves and making sure that we are getting better every day. We try not to focus on other teams and just work on improving ourselves.
Texas senior midfielder Lindsey Meyer
On improvements Texas needs to make to come home with a win: I think we are doing a good job creating chances. Sometimes the goals are going to come, and sometimes they're not. As long as we are creating chances, we need to focus on the finish, and we can do that for sure.
On finishing on offense: We have been working on that all week during practice, and we have players that can do it, so I think it's just about them having the confidence to put the ball in the back of the net.
