The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
8-8-1, 1-5-1Big 12
#1 West Virginia
15-1-1, 7-0-0Big 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Texas | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Soccer falls late to No. 1 West Virginia, 1-0
10.23.2016 | Soccer
Texas’ defense held the Mountaineers to their lowest shot total (12 shots) of the 2016 season
AUSTIN, Texas – Despite holding top-ranked West Virginia (15-1-1, 7-0-0 Big 12 Conference) to its lowest shot output in a match this season (12 shots) on Sunday evening at Mike A. Myers Stadium, Texas soccer (8-8-1, 1-5-1 Big 12 Conference) dropped a tough, 1-0 decision to the Mountaineers on a 79th minute strike by midfielder Carla Portillo.
WVU out-shot the Longhorns by a razor-thin margin of 12-11 and led 5-2 in corner kicks, while Texas managed a 6-4 advantage in shots on frame. UT's six attempts on goal in the match marked the most allowed by West Virginia to any Big 12 opponent this season.
Freshman forward Cyera Hintzen guided the Texas offense with four shots, two on frame, while senior goalkeeper Paige Brown made three saves in the contest.
Texas wasted little time manufacturing an offensive chance as sophomore midfielder Katie Glenn tried her luck from 15 yards out, just 1:36 into the match, forcing one of six saves by WVU net minder Michelle Newhouse.
Down at the other end, the Mountaineers crossed a ball from the left wing into the middle during the third minute. Forward Heather Kaleiohi quickly launched an effort from 10 yards out that was parried away by Brown before being cleared.
At 9:31, WVU just missed taking an early lead as defender Kadiesha Buchanan made a strong move from the right wing into the middle of the 18. She unleashed a drive that ricocheted off the cross bar, bounced down off Brown's back and then glanced off the outside of the left post before heading out of play.
UT responded right back at 12:49 off a free kick as a feed into the middle from senior midfielder Julia Dyche was headed wide left of goal by junior midfielder Morgan Murphy.
Texas' pressure continued unabated in the offensive third over the next few minutes as a long Hintzen shot from 20 yards-plus was smothered by Newhouse in the 17th minute.
During the 25th minute, UT freshman defender Emma Jett worked hard on the left wing and delivered a cross to the middle. The ball dropped to Dyche in space inside the 18, and the Southlake, Texas, native's header from 14 yards out traveled directly into the net minder's hands.
The Longhorns got another outstanding opportunity at 25:42 as a free kick from senior defender Isabelle Kerr from near midfield was played over the crowd in the 18. The ball fell just in front of an onrushing Hintzen, and she managed a quick shot as the keeper arrived, but Newhouse managed another stellar stop.
WVU finally managed another spell of extended possession starting in the 29th minute, earning a corner kick, but getting no shots. At 32:05, a long ball up the right side by the Mountaineers landed right at the feet of Hannah Abraham. Brown raced out quickly off her line and registered another important save as the two players collided.
Senior forward Jasmine Hart tallied the last scoring chance for either team in the opening 45 minutes by driving a shot on frame at 35:59 that forced another Newhouse stop.
Out of the locker room, both teams had solid early chances. WVU forward Michaela Abam just missed the top right corner on a shot at 47:34, while Texas sophomore midfielder Kayra Dollas volleyed a try wide right from 14 yards out.
Dollas was at it again at 53:57, off a long free kick feed, as her header from 10 yards out forced Newhouse to make a diving save.
Both teams continued to press for a breakthrough over the next 10-15 minutes with each squad managing shots that were either blocked, wide or high of frame.
In the 73rd minute, a UT pass ahead into the 18 fell to Hintzen. The Garland, Texas, native quickly attempted a volley, but the keeper had raced out and managed a deflection.
Brown kept the match scoreless on a huge stop at 73:36 as Abraham's shot from 14 yards out was deflected away by Brown on a fully-extended dive to her left.
Unfortunately for the Longhorns, the Mountaineers finally managed the breakthrough at 78:50. With the ball bouncing around inside the 18 and UT unable to clear it out of danger, Portillo settled a ricochet and blasted a perfect shot from 23 yards out that hit the bottom of the crossbar on the way into the twine to make it 1-0.
Texas continued to battle hard down the stretch, but WVU was able to effectively run out the remaining time to seal a one-goal triumph.
Texas Soccer Post-Match Quotes vs. West Virginia – 10/23/16
Texas head coach Angela Kelly
On West Virginia's game-deciding goal in the second half: I think it was well-taken. She cleaned up a bouncing ball 23 yards out and took a whirl. It was a heck of a strike. I just can't say it enough, I'm so proud of our squad. The effort this weekend, following a battle on Friday night and to have this type of response on a Sunday against the number one team in the country, is fantastic. I think the shots on goal were 12-11 at the end and 6-3 us at half. I'm just really proud of our group and what their response was. Once again, it's sticking to the process and believing. We had chances, their goalkeeper played fantastic and, with a team like that, you have to take those chances. You're not going to be getting chances all night, and you're going to have to be able to put one of those away.
On how impressed she was about her team handling the tempo: I was pleased. We knew that they were going to have a couple runs and, with a team like that and with so many personalities, you have to ride their wave. I think we just needed to possess the ball a little bit better in the second half under pressure. That would have relieved a little bit of their rhythm going forward, but credit to West Virginia. Coach Izzo-Brown won her 300th game on Friday night, and she's done a tremendous job with that program. I just have a ton of respect for her and that program.
On her message to the team heading into Friday's match at TCU: We have a job to do. I'm concerned with showing up every day forward, the way we showed up on Friday and the way we showed up today. If that's now in our DNA, as injured as we are, I think we're going to be in great shape moving forward.
Texas senior defender Isabelle Kerr
On losing on senior night: I obviously wanted to win on my senior night, but the way our team played, we just played the number one team in the nation toe-to-toe. We out shot them, I think six to three in the first half, and I'm just so excited about our team's effort and the way we came together in the end. We play TCU next Friday, and I couldn't be more excited, and then on to the Big 12 tournament, so wanted to win but I'm pumped at how well we're playing and all the effort we gave.
On West Virginia's goal: Honestly, I kind of blocked it out. I was asking someone how they scored at the end and I just blocked it out. I just remember it being a great goal and for us just in those last 10, 12 minutes we just had to be even more focused as we get more tired. Then when we're in the attacking end, we just got to finish one and then we'll be good to go and we'll clean that up.
Texas freshman forward Cyera Hintzen
On the team's performance tonight: We were very impressed with our effort and we gave 100% on Friday night. For us to come out and give 100% and be toe-to-toe with West Virginia was just amazing.
On playing TCU next week: I think we just need to come out harder than we ever have and just finish so we can go on to Big 12.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Carla Portillo (4)
Assisted By: Grace Cutler
Received from the top of the box, right
78:50