The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
3-3-3
West Virginia
10-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| West Virginia | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Soccer drops a 2-0 decision at No. 5 West Virginia
09.25.2015 | Soccer
Longhorns season-best four-match unbeaten streak comes to an end with the Big 12-opening loss
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Single goals late in the first half and early in the second half proved enough to power No. 5 West Virginia (10-1-0, 1-0-0 Big 12 Conference) to a 2-0 victory over Texas (3-3-3, 0-1-0 Big 12) on Friday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
The Mountaineers out-shot the Longhorns by a 31-5 total, including 12-2 in shots on frame, while managing a 10-2 advantage on corner kicks.
UT standout senior goalkeeper Abby Smith was amazing in goal, making 10 saves to improve her league-leading total to 57 through nine matches (6.33 saves-per-match). Junior midfielder Julia Dyche and senior midfielder Chantale Campbell registered Texas' two successful shots on frame.
West Virginia had the run of play during the early going, managing three quality chances over the opening 3:46 of the match. The best of those came on a try by forward Nia Gordon from the middle of the 18 as her drive was partially deflected, changing direction as it rolled in on net. Smith saved the day, reacting quickly to dive fully extended to her right to just get a fingertip on the ball before jumping on it to cease the danger.
The Mountaineers came extremely close to an opening score over a seven-second stretch from 9:59-10:06 as a succession of three consecutive WVU shots from forwards Kailey Utley and Michaela Abam and midfielder Ashley Lawrence were saved, saved and hit the crossbar, respectively. On Abam's effort, only Smith's quick reaction to race off her line past the top of the six to cut down the angle prevented a goal.
Texas began to earn a bit more possession in the midfield about mid-way through the first half, but WVU's defense kept the Horns from making the needed final pass to get off a shot.
The WVU goal that seemed to be coming finally arrived at the 35:58 mark as a ball played from the right wing to the back post was headed into the upper right corner by Hannah Abraham to make it 1-0.
UT tried to fight right back just 22 seconds later as Campbell fired a shot from 25 yards out that traveled straight into the arms of WVU keeper Hannah Steadman.
Smith tried her luck on one of her patented free kicks for Texas at 41:45, but her hard line-drive shot drifted wide left of frame for a goal kick.
Out of the locker room, West Virginia quickly added to its advantage as a cross from the left wing landed near the back post. With Lawrence battling a UT defender, the ball ricocheted off the battling pair into the right side of the net for a 2-0 lead.
The Longhorns earned a corner kick in the 61st minute with Campbell stepping to take it. The London, Ontario, Canada, native delivered a searching ball into the middle, and it ricocheted back out to the top of the 18. Sophomore midfielder Morgan Murphy was waiting and headed a shot that drifted just wide left of frame.
With West Virginia's pressure continuing throughout the second stanza, Texas freshman forward Alexa Adams managed to earn a free kick in a dangerous spot, approximately 24 yards out in the middle. Dyche stepped up and drove a shot on frame that was tipped over the crossbar for a corner.
The Mountaineers nearly made it 3-0 in the 86th minute as Amandine Pierre-Louis hit the post from the right wing. Off the rebound back out into the middle of the 18, Utley fired from space, but again Smith dove fully extended to make another tremendous stop.
From there, WVU kept the Horns from firing off another shot as the Mountaineers opened Big 12 Conference play with a 2-0 victory.
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Team Stats
Abraham, Hannah (2)
Assisted By: St. Georges, Bianca
Header up the left box to far right post
35:58
Lawrence, Ashley (3)
Assisted By: Utley, Kailey
Cross into box from Utley, Lawrence foun
51:55
