The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
11-1-2, 3-1-2Big 12
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Kansas
7-6-2, 2-2-1Big 12
No. 9 Soccer’s school record-tying 13-match unbeaten streak ends at Kansas, 2-1
10.13.2017 | Soccer
The Jayhawks 84th-minute goal marked the first time Texas had trailed over the last 721:54 of match time
LAWRENCE, Kan. – On Friday night at Rock Chalk Park, second-half goals from forward Lois Heuchan (57') and defender Kayla Morrison (84') rallied Kansas (7-6-2, 2-2-1 Big 12 Conference) from a one-goal deficit and ended No. 9 Texas soccer's (11-1-2, 3-1-2 Big 12 Conference) school record-tying 13-match unbeaten streak, 2-1.
Redshirt sophomore forward Mikayla Flores granted the Longhorns the lead at 37:45 on her first goal of the campaign off the initial assist of the year from junior midfielder Amber Stearns.
KU's score to grab the advantage at 83:41 marked the first time that Texas had trailed at any point over the last 721:54 of match time (over portions of eight matches) dating back to the second half of a 3-2 (OT) victory against Northeastern on Sept. 10.
"Thirteen matches into the season and to still be unbeaten with the amount of parity that there is in this country and in our league, it's been an exceptional feat by our squad," Texas head coach Angela Kelly said. "Credit Kansas tonight. They had a great second half and a great response. We're going to regroup. Our players are so young, and they're feeling the grind of the season and of the Big 12. They've certainly carried the weight of having a target on their back. Now, it's our job as a staff to teach, and we will re-organize and understand that there's a ton of season left to play.
"I'd especially like to mention the performance of Mikayla Flores tonight. Tremendous first goal of the season for her. She was getting up-and-down the right flank and turning her defenders at will. I just really appreciate her competitive spirit, and it was wonderful to see a great reward for a young player that day-in and day-out gives everything for this program. In the end, it is what it is. It doesn't feel great, and a loss should never feel great. We're on the road in the Big 12, and any sort of points, much less those on the road, are hard to come by. Our young squad is going to learn from this, and we're going to move forward."
In the early going it was Texas that manufactured the first solid scoring chance at 2:04 as junior midfielder Katie Glenn fired a shot from a tough angle on the right side that was blocked out of play. Off the subsequent corner, Flores managed a header in a crowd out front, but it was blocked and cleared by the KU defense.
Back down at the other end, Kansas midfielder Alex Schweitzer led fly with an opportunity from 30 yards out at 3:49, but it ventured a few feet over the cross bar.
Longhorns junior defender Chelsea Surpris decided to try her luck from 30-plus yards out during the seventh minute, but her shot also traveled just a couple of feet over the woodwork.
After Texas had the run of play early, Kansas began settling into the match as KU midfielder Kathryn Castro forced sophomore goalkeeper into action to make her first of eight saves at 16:42.
The Jayhawks registered another dangerous opportunity during the 21st minute as a cross from deep out on the right side proved just a foot too far for a player racing into towards the top of the six.
Off a UT corner taken by sophomore defender Emma Jett, the delivery into the middle ricocheted out to the top of the 18. Waiting was freshman midfielder Haley Berg, but her quick volley was blocked out and off the right side netting at 29:30.
The back-and-forth action continued as the Jayhawks earned a corner during the 37th minute. Off the feed inside the 18, KU's Morrison got a lot on a header, but Curry tracked it down near the left post.
Texas nabbed the lead rather suddenly at the 37:45 mark as KU net minder Maddie Dobyns started the play by driving a goal kick up the left side. Stearns did a great job beating her marker to the ball, leaping to deliver a pass up to Flores in some space. The La Verne, Calif., native took two dribbles before blasting a shot from a sharp angle at the right edge of the 18 that tickled the inside of the left side netting to make it 1-0.
That proved the last solid scoring chance of the half as both teams headed to the locker room with the Longhorns up by a goal.
Out of the break, both squads had possession early, with each earning corners over the first seven minutes, but neither could get off a shot.
A bouncing ball found Kansas' Heuchan in space just inside the right side of the 18 at 52:52, but the forward's shot was mis-hit and traveled well high of frame.
A solid spell of KU possession paid dividends during the 57th minute as a cross in from the right wing by forward Grace Hagan gave Heuchan a chance for redemption as she slotted home the tying goal from six yards out.
The Jayhawks kept up the strong pressure over the next few minutes as midfielder Ceri Holland barely missed making it two for KU as her bent effort from the top of the 18 drifted just wide of the right post at 57:59.
Curry was forced to make yet another stop at 63:43 as Kansas forward Katie McClure picked up a ball just outside the 18 and let a left-footed drive fly right into the keeper arms.
Against the run of play, Texas had a great chance of its own during the 67th minute as Flores fed a ball in to Berg from the right wing. The Celina, Texas, product quickly moved to her left past a defender and launched a shot from 12 yards but right to Dobyns for a save.
The Burnt Orange & White finally settled back into the match mid-way through the second stanza, earning a corner at 67:50 and getting a shot on goal from junior defender Chelsea Surpris at 72:53.
Kansas nearly grabbed the advantage at 82:36 as Heuchan fired a drive from the top of the 18 that Curry managed to tip up and over the bar.
Finally at 83:41, KU jumped in front off a corner as the delivery into the middle of the 18 bounced around in a crowd. Morrison managed a quick shot and successfully knocked it home just inside the left post from six yards out to make it 2-1.
Down the stretch, the Longhorns managed spells of possession, but couldn't get off another shot as KU finished off the one-goal victory.
Team Stats
Flores, Mikayla (1)
Assisted By: Stearns, Amber
shot in from right side of 18-yard box
37:45
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Heuchan, Lois (2)
Assisted By: Hagan, Grace
25 crossed to 2, hit in from 5 yards
56:14
Morrison, Kayla (2)
knocked in loose ball after corner kick
83:41
