The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Sam Houston State
Soccer’s offense erupts in 7-0 victory over Sam Houston State
09.02.2016 | Soccer
Seven goals are the most for the Longhorns in a match since Oct. 13, 2006, also against SHSU
AUSTIN, Texas – The number seven proved to be lucky for Texas soccer (3-1-0) on Friday evening at Mike A. Myers Stadium as the Longhorns offense exploded for seven goals in rolling past Sam Houston State, 7-0.
The seven tallies marked the most for the Burnt Orange & White in a single match since beating Sam Houston State, 7-0, at home back on Oct. 13, 2006. Texas out-shot the Bearkats by a staggering total of 30-1, including 13-1 in shots on goal, and didn't allow a single SHSU shot over the last 75:24 of the contest. UT also managed a 12-1 advantage on corner kicks, while 18 different Longhorns received playing time.
Six different Longhorns located the goal-scoring column, led by freshman forward Kyra Falcone, who registered her first two career goals just 41 seconds apart during the opening half.
Junior forward Olivia Brook opened the scoring with the eventual match-winner on her second of the campaign at 15:21. Sophomore forward Alexa Adams found pay dirt for the third-straight contest with her team-leading third goal of the season at 16:26, while senior forward Jasmine Hart managed her second goal of 2016 at 24:19. Junior midfielder Morgan Murphy picked up her initial score of the year at 55:13, while sophomore defender Chelsea Surpris surprised everyone by chipping the goalkeeper for her first career tally on a 40-plus yard drive at 69:05.
Senior midfielder Julia Dyche registered two assists off corner kicks, while Adams and junior defender Monique Iannella each contributed single helpers in the victory.
Surprisingly, considering the final score line, neither offense managed a shot over the opening 14:36 of the contest until Sam Houston State's Allie Johnson forced Texas goalkeeper Taylor Braun to make her only save on an ambitious, 30-yard shot.
The Longhorns' stout pressure soon began paying dividends in the 16th minute, however, as Brook dribbled around a defender into the right side of the 18 and scored from eight yards out for a 1-0 lead.
It took just 1:05 for the Burnt Orange & White to double their advantage as Adams beat her marker up the right wing and unleashed a drive from eight yards out at an angle that tickled the twine.
From there, it was wave-after-wave of UT attacks. During the 25th minute, Iannella passed a ball up the right wing to Adams who lifted a perfectly weighted cross inside the 18. Hart located some space in the middle and headed the feed into goal from nine yards out to boost the gap to 3-0.
Texas sophomore midfielder Nakia Graham almost made it four during the 37th minute as back-to-back shots from eight yards out on the left side forced saves by SHSU net minder Bailey Swain.
Introduced into the contest at 32:47, it didn't take long for Falcone to leave her mark on the proceedings. Off a corner by Dyche, the San Antonio, Texas, native headed a ball just past a defender at the right post and over the line for the fourth goal of the night. Only 41 seconds later, Falcone was at it again, dribbling up the right wing before scoring from 13 yards at a tough angle to make it 5-0.
The second half was perhaps more lopsided than the first as the Longhorns out-shot the Bearkats, 18-0.
With chance after chance to add to its advantage, Texas' sixth score finally came at 55:13. Again Dyche delivered a perfect corner feed into the middle of the 18 where Murphy finished via header from 10 yards out.
In the 70th minute, a SHSU clearance dropped right to Surpris about 40-45 yards out in the middle of the pitch. The defender put a boot to it, and with the goalie slightly off her line, the shot somehow found some space between the quickly-retreating net minder and the crossbar to finalize things at 7-0.
Texas thought it had an eighth goal at 83:29 as a shot by Brook from right in front of frame appeared to have crossed the line, but the head official signaled for play to continue.
From there, the Longhorns had late efforts from sophomore defender Paige Hooper and freshman defender Emily Martin go wide right of frame as UT finalized a dominant, seven-goal win.
Texas Post-Match Quotes – Sam Houston State – Sept. 2, 2016
Head Coach Angela Kelly
On the difference maker in tonight's game: The hunger in front of goal. I think we, throughout the course of this season thus far, have certainly created opportunities to score. Tonight, we took advantage of those opportunities, and we put the ball in the back of the net, and there you have it. That's the difference.
On freshman Kyra Falcone's two-goal performance: There was one notion in her mind, and that was to go to goal. Anybody that you have up top, you want them to have that sort of hunger. She obviously has great pace, and she strikes a very, very clean ball, so those are two individual efforts. The balls that were given through to her were perfect, and she had the pace to go after it. Two wonderful strikes.
On whether she is surprised that the team scored seven goals: Never surprised. I think we see this type of finishing every day in training. Accomplishing that within a competition and within the match is a very rewarding feeling for the team.
On facing their first top-25 opponent in No. 19 Cal on Sunday: Going downstairs to watch them play Texas Tech right now. They're a fabulous team. They're very dynamic. We're going to start our recovery and our preparation immediately. It's less recovery time. We were able to steal those two hours here though, having the game at five. We have to prepare to play a top program and we're going to go after them.
Senior Forward Jasmine Hart
On what she liked in her team's performance: We found our players inside, and I know we've been working a lot on set pieces, so all of our players, they know how to get into the box, they know how to finish right off the cross from the outside. That's just what we've been working on in all of our practices since Tuesday. So we've been really working on finishing, and I think our team did a really good job putting the balls away when we had the chances.
On the impact this game will have on Sunday's matchup against Cal: There are players who got their first goal tonight, and I think that just gives our team a lot more confidence going into our game on Sunday. We're just really excited and happy that we got seven goals, and we can't wait for our next match.
Freshman Forward Kyra Falcone
On scoring the first two goals of her career in one game: It's completely surreal right now. I mean, it's just really exciting. I'm really excited to be here, let alone be able to score.
