Soccer drops a 2-0 decision at UCSB

Friday, September 4

Santa Barbara, Calif.

9 p.m.

University of Texas

1-2-1

UCSB

1-2-1

Texas

UC Santa Barbara

09.04.2015 | Soccer

Box Score

Longhorns out-shoot the Gauchos by an 11-8 total for the match

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Despite out-shooting UCSB by an 11-8 total in the match, Texas (1-2-1) suffered a 2-0 setback to the Gauchos (1-2-1) on Friday night at Harder Stadium.

UT senior midfielder Lindsey Meyer and freshman midfielder Kayra Dollas each led the Longhorns' offense with three shots apiece, while senior goalkeeper Abby Smith made four saves in the contest.

The match remained scoreless at the half, but UCSB nabbed the lead at 56:51 on a goal from forward Jessica Parque before adding insurance via midfielder Chace Schornstein at 85:30.

Each team managed a couple of early forays into the offensive third, but Texas registered the only shot over the opening 10-plus minutes. That came on a deflected cross from the right wing by freshman midfielder Kayra Dollas that bounced in on frame during the opening minute of play.

UCSB managed its first shot of the night during the 16th minute as a long ball driven from the left wing into the 18 was headed on frame from 14 yards out by midfielder Mallory Hromatko, forcing a Smith save.

The Gauchos nearly had a 1-v-1 opportunity in the 17th minute as Parque received a pass up field into some space on the right wing. UT rallied inside the 18, however, with a single defender racing back to contest the eventual shot as Smith made another routine stop.

Texas' net minder was soon forced to continue her theme of providing big saves, stopping a point-blank drive from Parque from 10 yards out in the middle of the 18 during the 22nd minute.

The Longhorns managed a dangerous chance of their own during the 31st minute as UT earned a free kick in a dangerous spot about 38 yards out on the left side of the pitch. Junior midfielder Julia Dyche launched a ball in towards the right post seeking senior midfielder Lindsey Meyer. The Coppell, Texas, native out-leapt her marker, but her contested header went wide right.

Redshirt freshman forward Mikayla Flores found herself in some space up the left wing during the 39th minute and quickly cut towards the middle of the 18. Rather than attempting a cross, the La Verne, Calif., native attempted to curl a shot into the upper right corner of the twine, but her try drifted wide right.

Out of the locker room the Gauchos had the first solid chance in the 50th minute as a curled cross from well out on the right side nearly found a streaking UCSB forward at the back post.

Texas had another opportunity off a corner in the 53rd minute as Dyche's feed from the right corner to the back post found Meyer again, but her header proved wide left of frame.

Having threatened all match, the Gauchos finally broke the scoreless deadlock at 56:51. Hromatko worked the ball up the right side of the pitch and moved towards the edge of the 18. She played a cross back behind a UT defender to the top of the six where a marked Parque finished into the top right corner of the net for a 1-0 advantage.

The Longhorns nearly answered right back in the 59th minute as a free kick from well out front was played into the left edge of the 18. A UT header across the middle found Dollas in some space. The Orange, Calif., product leapt and headed a shot but it ricocheted off the right post before being cleared out of danger.

Seeking an equalizer, Texas senior midfielder Chantale Campbell had a go from long range in the 71st minute, but her lengthy try was deflected slightly and failed to trouble UCSB keeper Jacq Caginia.

With approximately seven minutes left in regulation, Smith launched a lengthy free kick from well past midfield that landed among the crowd inside the 18. Meyer leapt over everyone and headed on frame, but her try bounced right into Caginia's waiting arms between the pipes.

The Gauchos added some insurance off a corner with 4:40 left as a ball played from Hromatko found midfielder Chace Schornstein entering the top right corner of the 18. Her sliding poke at the ball lifted it up perfectly over Smith and into the far left side of the netting to make it 2-0.

Texas had several chances over the last few minutes to cut into the advantage, but shots from both Dyche, off a free kick just outside the 18, and Campbell were high and saved, respectively.