The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
12-1-2, 4-1-2Big 12
Kansas State
6-8-1, 1-5-0Big 12
No. 9 Soccer gets Berg’s “golden goal” to top Kansas State, 1-0 (OT)
10.15.2017 | Soccer
The Longhorns improved to 4-0-2 in extra-time and 10-1 in one-goal decisions during the 2017 season
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Locked in a scoreless draw during the 93rd minute on Sunday at the K-State Soccer Stadium, Texas soccer freshman midfielder Haley Berg blasted a 17-yard shot off the underside of the crossbar and just over the line for her first career "golden goal" to lead the No. 9 Longhorns (12-1-2, 4-1-2 Big 12 Conference) past a determined Kansas State (6-8-1, 1-5-0 Big 12 Conference), 1-0 (OT).
Berg's goal was her fifth of 2017 and came off the team-leading fifth assist of the campaign from sophomore forward Cyera Hintzen. Sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Curry made five stops between the pipes in moving into a tie for first all-time in Texas program history for single season shutouts with nine alongside former Longhorns net minders Abby Smith (2014) and Dianna Pfenninger (2008).
"I think Amber (Stearns) headed it to Cyera, and she beat like three players," Berg said. "She didn't stop working and just laid it off to me. Cyera took her players away, and I just decided to try the shot. I think getting back into the win column today was very important. We just needed to get our groove back, know we can do anything we put our minds to and get back to playing how we started."
The Burnt Orange & White dominated statistically, out-shooting the Wildcats by a 25-8 count, including 11-5 in shots on goal, while managing a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.
"I'm just really proud of our team's response today," Texas head coach Angela Kelly said. "Collectively, we kept the ball better and had a better rhythm. We created a lot more opportunities. Cyera hit the post in the first 45 seconds of the match. There were lots of great individual moments, but I'm most pleased about our performance as a defensive unit and on the offensive side.
"Credit to Kansas State. They are very competitive and put up a great battle. They're doing a fantastic job, being such a young program. For our team, we re-grouped yesterday, and today was all about the response. As their head coach, I'm really proud of them and their response. There are things we need to polish up this week to prepare for a great squad in Baylor next Friday, but it's always better to teach off a win."
Kansas State wasted no time making its presence felt in the contest, earning a corner during the first minute of play. Off the delivery into the middle, the ball dropped right to the feet of Wildcat defender Megan Kalkofen. She fired off a right-foot shot that was deflected away by Curry.
Back down at the other end, Texas nearly jumped to an early lead of its own at 2:10 as Hintzen corralled a ball inside the top of the 18, turned quickly and blasted a shot off the right post. A follow-up attempt from Berg traveled high of frame for a goal kick.
Hintzen was at it again for the Longhorns in the 11th minute, making another quick turn just inside the 18 and firing a 15-yard shot directly into the arms of K-State goalie Miranda Larkin.
UT's pressure continued nearly unabated as a cross in from the left wing by junior midfielder Katie Glenn found a tightly-marked Mikayla Flores. The redshirt sophomore forward managed to get off a shot from eight yards out, but Larkin stopped it on a dive near the left upright.
Against the run of play, Kansas State got a 30-plus yard effort from deep out on the left wing by forward Tatum Wagner at 21:32, but the drive bounced harmlessly into Curry's arms.
A Wildcat turnover near midfield granted the Longhorns a great chance during the 28th minute. Junior forward Alexa Adams made the steal, turned and dribbled quickly up the right wing. With numbers developing, as Hintzen raced marked up the middle, Adams decided to try her luck from 17 yards out, but her effort went just over the cross bar.
KSU had a little more of the possession as time grew shorter in the opening frame as Christina Baxter had a shot blocked from 20 yards at 38:36.
Another dangerous Kansas State counter during the 42nd minute got Curry back into action as a 15-yard shot from midfielder Maddie Souder bounced in on frame.
Out of the locker room, Texas got right back to work in the 47th minute as a dangerous cross from the right wing by redshirt freshman Cydney Billups just missed finding Adams streaking in towards the right post.
UT junior midfielder Kayra Dollas swiped a ball about 40 yards out from goal, dribbled to her right towards the top of the 18 and drove a shot just wide right at 54:40.
Unfortunately, the woodwork came into play again for the Burnt Orange & White at 63:57. After great work to win a ball near the right corner by Berg, the Celina, Texas, native moved along the end line toward frame. She crossed a ball back towards the top of the 18, where freshman midfielder Emily Strouphauer was waiting in space. The Round Rock, Texas, product fired off a 14-yard blast, but it rattled off the left upright and out of play.
Billups just got on the end of a through ball up the middle during the 72nd minute, but her quick shot from seven yards was immediately smothered by hard-charging KSU keeper Larkin as both players collided.
KSU got another quick counter underway during the 77th minute as Wagner found some space up the right wing, charged in and fired a 17-yard shot directly to Curry near the right post.
Texas almost got a one-two worked between Berg and Hintzen inside the 18 during the 83rd minute, but KSU's defense rallied at the last second to break up the building opportunity.
Back at the other end, Kansas State got another solid chance of its own as forward Hannah Davis located some space near the top of the 18, but her eventual shot again bent right into Curry's arms.
Berg continued to battle inside the 18, manufacturing shots at 88:41 and 88:48 that were blocked and saved by Larkin, respectively, as the teams eventually headed to overtime.
Just two minutes into the initial extra session, it was K-State that manufactured the first scoring chance. Wagner beat a defender near the right end line and fired a quick shot that dangerously rolled just a couple of feet outside the left post.
The end followed quickly as a pass ahead from Hintzen found Berg just inside the top of the 18. After a quick move to her left, Berg launched a 17-yard drive that ricocheted off the bottom of the crossbar and traveled straight down over the line to end Texas' 1-0 OT victory.
Team Stats
Berg, Haley (5)
Assisted By: Hintzen, Cyera
Line drive shot from 17 yds
92:30
