The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
3-2-0
#19 California
5-1-0
Soccer drops tough 1-0 decision to No. 19 California
09.04.2016 | Soccer
Senior goalkeeper Paige Brown makes six saves between the pipes for the Longhorns
AUSTIN, Texas – A controversial goal off a free kick re-start during the 68th minute provided the decisive score that No. 19 California (4-1-0) needed to defeat Texas soccer (3-2-0) on Sunday morning at Mike A. Myers Stadium, 1-0.
Following a Texas foul just outside the top of the 18, the Golden Bears quickly re-started play as midfielder Kelly Fitzgerald tapped a pass ahead to Ifeoma Onumonu already inside the 18. UT's goalkeeper Paige Brown tried reacting to the 1 v. 1 situation, and did her best to cut down the angle, but the Cal forward easily scored into the right edge of the netting from nine yards out at 67:43.
Brown proved strong between the pipes for the Burnt Orange & White, making six saves in her second career start on the Forty Acres. Senior midfielder Julia Dyche guided the Longhorns offensive output with four total attempts as Cal registered a 15-10 advantage on shots and a 7-2 discrepancy in shots on goal.
The Golden Bears controlled the early going as Texas looked to settle into the match. Over the opening 10 minutes, Cal managed four separate corner kicks, resulting in a blocked shot by Miranda Nild, a drive that forced a Brown save from Emma Fletcher and two more Nild shots that were high and blocked, respectively.
Dyche got the Longhorns on the board shot-wise during the 12th minute with a try from 35 yards out in the middle that forced a stop by Cal net minder Emily Boyd.
From there, Texas began to settle down and managed more possession over the remainder of the opening stanza.
At 20:56, UT junior forward Olivia Brook launched a shot from 18 yards out on the right wing that was blocked by the Cal defense. A rebound ricocheted right to senior forward Jasmine Hart, but the Haltom City, Texas, product's follow-up effort was also blocked over the end line for a corner.
Perhaps the Longhorns' best opportunity in the match came during the 24th minute. Freshman defender Emma Jett headed up the left wing and delivered a perfectly weighted cross towards the back post. With traffic standing in front of her, sophomore forward Alexa Adams appeared a little surprised when the feed traveled all the way through the crowd to her feet. The Lancaster, Calif., attempted to react quickly, but her shot was mis-hit slightly before venturing wide right of frame.
With the Burnt Orange & White holding the Golden Bears without a single shot over the last 25:18 of the opening half, Texas got two more efforts from Dyche down the stretch that were blocked (34:04) and wide left (42:40) as the two teams headed to the break in a scoreless dead-lock.
Out of the halftime locker room, the Horns started well, pressuring the Cal end of the pitch, but it was the Golden Bears that had the best of the early chances.
Brown came up with a pair of vital saves during the 49th minute, the second of which came in a 1 v. 1 situation from 14 yards out against forward Abigail Kim.
Off a Texas free kick in the 58th minute, Dyche floated a pass from the deep right side towards the left post. Battling her marker before eventually falling to the turf, sophomore midfielder Kayra Dollas got her head on the ball for a shot, but watched it travel wide left.
The teams continued their hard-fought battle over the next few minutes with Cal's Nild and Texas junior defender Monique Iannella each forcing saves.
The breakthrough eventually came in the 68th minute as Cal earned a free kick just outside the top of the 18. With virtually everyone on both teams still working out the set-up for the free kick, Cal's Fitzgerald took advantage of a quick re-start, passing ahead to Onumonu who finished 1 v. 1 against Brown from nine yards.
With Texas suddenly searching for an equalizer, Cal nearly helped the Horns cause with 17:33 left as freshman forward Kyra Falcone crossed a ball from the left wing inside the 18. A Golden Bear defender attempted to clear the ball out of danger and came close to scoring an "own goal" by lifting it just past the right post for a UT corner.
Off the ensuing corner kick during the 74th minute, Boyd punched the UT feed straight out into the middle of the 18. The ball dropped right to the feet of Iannella, but her eventual shot ventured high over the bar.
Texas would have a final chance to level things at 83:09 as a nice cross almost located a sliding Katie Glenn at the back post. Unfortunately, the sophomore midfielder couldn't quite reach it to get off a shot. A follow-up header on the play from well out front by Dyche was handled by Boyd to end the threat.
From there, Cal effectively went into time-wasting mode, ticking off the final 6:51 to seal the triumph.
Texas head coach Angela Kelly
On how her team responded against California: I think we had a tremendous response. Cal's a very, very highly-ranked team with a lot of explosive players, and I think we organized our game plan. I was pleased with our discipline with the execution of that game plan and, against a team like Cal, you have to put a couple of those half-chances away. I think our players understand that, and we'll continue to get better and better.
On how the team performed in the first 15 minutes: I think that's the beginning of any match. I think both teams will experience a period of time where the game settles into itself. The question at that point is at what point do you assert yourself? I think, collectively, we've been able to assert ourselves in a match better and better. We're still a pretty young squad; we still haven't seen the likes of Cyera Hintzen yet, who is going to possibly be one of the choices for the U-20 World Cup team. With this team, you saw a great performance from the University of Texas today, and you're only going to continue to see better.
On her concluding thoughts from today's match: I'm really proud of our squad. We just competed against one of the best teams in this country, and if that's one of the best teams in the country, I'm really excited about where we are this early in the season. We're really excited to be able to spend the day with the future of Texas Soccer with our '17, '18, '19 and '20 recruits and enjoy the best atmosphere in America right next door when, at 6:30, Charlie Strong and our football squad take on Notre Dame. There are lots of positives, and I'm really proud of this squad.
Senior midfielder Julia Dyche
On the match: I think that was evidence of the opportunities we got. We're happy with the way we played, and I think that we went out there and we threw everything we had. We stuck to our game plan. I think that was evident in some of the opportunities that we got, and so we're happy with the way that we fought and happy that we hung with one of the best teams in the country.
On the goal and what happened: It was a different situation, but something that we learn from. Obviously, we never want to go down, but we'll learn from it and get better from it.
On the quick restart in the buildup to the goal: It was a quick restart, but that's just something that we need to be on our toes for.
On the first fifteen minutes: Yeah, I think after the first 15 minutes, we really came alive and really got them on their heels, had them chasing up and had some opportunities. I think that's what we want to have from the very first whistle, so imposing ourselves and knowing that we are a great team from the very first whistle.
On taking confidence from competing with a top-25 team: Yeah, I think it's great. I think it sends a message to the country that we are a top team and gives us a lot of confidence that we played great, we had chances to beat them. I think it's great going into next week to play another ranked team (Ohio State).
On if the final score reflected how the game played out: I don't think so. You know, sometimes soccer just doesn't go your way, and it's unfortunate. But, you know, we'll learn from our mistakes and be better next week.
Senior goalkeeper Paige Brown
On the game from her perspective and how the defense played: The defense played good. I felt connected with them throughout the game, and they were tackling hard, stepping in when they need to. I mean it just looked, the girls were having fun, and they were living off that.
On the six saves today and feelings on having an edge: Yeah, I feel definitely more connected now in my second game with the back line. The team, they know what I'm going to do and when I'm going to do it. We know what we're going to do with one another.
On the goal and the quick restart: I mean that's just unfortunate, and you learn from it. You've got to restart from it. It's how the game goes sometimes.
On what coach had to say after the game: She was proud of our effort. You know, sometimes stuff doesn't go our way, and she was just proud of our effort, this team out there staying with the game plan we had.
On being on the road for the first time next weekend: You know, we're just looking to do the same thing as we did here, just go out and play hard. And you know, this is our level now, and we've got to keep playing like this. So, go out and repeat the same performance next week against both those teams.
Team Stats
Onumonu, Ifeoma (3)
Assisted By: Fitzgerald, Kelly
Quick free kick outside box, shot from 9
67:43
