Soccer drops a 1-0 decision to Kansas

Sunday, October 2

Austin, Texas

1 p.m.

University of Texas

6-6-1, 0-3-1Big 12

Kansas

8-3-2, 3-0-0Big 12

Kansas

Texas

10.02.2016 | Soccer

Box Score

Katie McClure scores the match-winner for the Jayhawks with just 4:37 remaining in regulation

Photo Gallery

AUSTIN, Texas – Katie McClure's 86th minute goal proved decisive as Kansas (8-3-2, 3-0-0 Big 12 Conference) topped Texas soccer (6-6-1, 0-3-1 Big 12 Conference) in a Sunday afternoon league contest at Mike A. Myers Stadium, 1-0.

The Longhorns out-shot KU by a 15-13 total and led 4-2 on corner kicks, while each team managed five shots on frame.

Texas registered the initial attempt of the contest as freshman forward Cyera Hintzen launched the first of her team-leading five shots well wide left at 2:35.

McClure got the Jayhawks into the shot column at 5:01 as her try from a tough angle out on the left wing stayed wide left of goal.

Following a prolonged battle over the midfield, the Burnt Orange & White earned the match's initial corner at 15:58, but couldn't register a shot as an eventual feed traveled out of play at the back post.

Junior forward Olivia Brook forced KU net minder Maddie Dobyns into action for the first time during the 21st minute as her 18-yard effort was stopped at the left post.

In the 36th minute, Texas senior goalkeeper Paige Brown made the first of her four saves in the contest by corralling an attempt from the boot of midfielder Hanna Kallmaier.

With time ticking down in a relatively quiet opening half, the Jayhawks managed a late flurry of shots over the final minute as midfielder Miriam Melugin and Elise Reina combined for three quick tries that were either blocked or high of frame.

Out of the locker room, senior forward Jasmine Hart created a dangerous chance for the Horns at 50:29. The Haltom City, Texas, native did solid work to create some space, cut towards the middle of the 18 and fired a shot that was stopped by a diving Dobyns at the right post.

Kansas thought it had taken the lead in the 52nd minute as a header inside the six was finished into the twine. The head official had blown his whistle for a foul, however, negating the goal.

Just seconds later at 52:06, Brown delivered her first remarkable stop of the match. A through ball up the middle of the pitch located McClure in clear space behind the UT backline. The KU forward raced in 1-v-1 against the keeper and fired from 13 yards, but Brown managed to make a tough catch.

McClure battled her way through a pair of Texas defenders to try her luck again during the 57th minute, but was denied again from point-blank range as Brown made another difficult stop.

The Jayhawks continued to press into the 63rd minute as a cross from the left wing rolled through the crowd out front. With the ball bouncing around inside the six-yard box, several KU players had a chance but couldn't get off a single shot as it eventually ricocheted off numerous bodies out front and rolled past the left post.

Texas sophomore midfielder Kayra Dollas tried her luck from 40 yards out at 70:43, but her attempt was caught on the fly by Dobyns.

Off a corner at 78:43, Dollas leapt high over the crowd inside the 18 and headed a promising shot that was blocked. The ball eventually bounced back out front to sophomore midfielder Katie Glenn. She fired quickly from 20 yards out, but that shot was also deflected by the KU defense.

With time beginning to run short in regulation, Hintzen nearly handed Texas the lead with two attempts that forced Dobyns saves at 83:33 and 84:29.

Unfortunately for the Horns, the breakthrough finally came at 85:23. Granted another opportunity, McClure wouldn't be denied again as a pass ahead into the 18 by Jackie Georgoulis was finished from six yards out to hand the Jayhawks a 1-0 advantage.

Pushing for a late equalizer, Dollas had one final chance for Texas at 89:22, but her shot off a quick turn from just inside the 18 ventured wide left.

Texas Post-Match Quotes – vs. Kansas

Texas head coach Angela Kelly

On what she told the team after today's loss: It's about accountability. We have had some critical pieces out with injuries and a couple of overtime matches. There's going to be physical fatigue, but you can't afford to have mental fatigue. When you get your opportunity to play, you want to shine. I think we did some good things in the first half, and then obviously in the second half, they were running at us. Paige Brown did a fantastic job in goal. It's going to be okay. (The team) did enough quality things where we have to have the capacity to put the ball in the back of the net.

On whether the team's issues come from execution or fundamentals: I think we are still creating dangerous opportunities and dangerous chances. I think it's just an execution in having an extra little touch or earlier of a pass. It's really just inches. It's also the emotional capacity in having a "never say die" attitude. Kansas is a heck of a team. Their record demonstrates that and they are well-coached, and lots of teams in our league are going to be that way. We just have to continue to get healthy, and it's going to be okay.

Texas senior goalkeeper Paige Brown

On saves she made throughout the game: You know just making sure I was communicating with the back line to make them solid first, and then if worst case comes, then I had to make the save. But I try to do it in front of me first, and then it makes my job a little easier.

On the team's recent losses: We've played good in these games, so we know what we can do and what we should be doing. We see it, so it's just keep grinding out what we're doing and then hopefully things will fall our way. We've still got a lot of season left so there's time to make up for some of the things that have happened.