The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
14-3-3
Clemson
10-5-4
No. 18 Soccer ties Clemson but advances on penalty kicks, 1-1 (2OT)
11.17.2017 | Soccer
The Longhorns prevailed in the shootout, 6-5, to move on to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007
DURHAM, N.C. – Tied at 1-1 after two overtime sessions on Friday night in NCAA Second Round action at Koskinen Stadium, No. 18 Texas soccer (14-3-3) out-lasted Clemson (10-5-4) over seven rounds of penalty kicks, prevailing by a 6-5 count to advance on to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007.
The Longhorns now move on to face top-seed and No. 3-ranked Duke (21-2-0) on Sun., Nov. 19, at Noon CT for a berth in the NCAA Elite Eight.
During the penalty kick round, the Longhorns got successful spot kicks from sophomore defender Atu Mshana, junior midfielder Katie Glenn, freshman forward Haley Berg, junior defender Chelsea Surpris, sophomore defender Emma Jett and junior defender Paige Hooper as well as a crucial final save from sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Curry on Clemson's seventh penalty to advance.
The Burnt Orange & White grabbed the lead at 60:47 on sophomore forward Cyera Hintzen's team-leading 10th goal of the season off the fourth assist from redshirt freshman forward Cydney Billups. The Tigers later tied the score at 1-1 on a goal from Patrice Dipasquale at 86:14.
Clemson out-shot the Longhorns by a total of 20-7, including 6-3 in shots on goal, and managed a 6-3 discrepancy in corner kicks.
"I'm just really excited for our squad," Texas head coach Angela Kelly said. "Throughout the course of the season, every single challenge, they've just been meeting it and exceeding it. This is a huge step for our program to get back to the NCAA Sweet 16. I'm just really proud of our team."
With the two teams feeling each other out over the first few minutes, it was Clemson that earned the match's first corner. On the eventual delivery into the middle, the Tigers looked to have a good scoring chance brewing, but Texas' defense fought hard to clear the ball out of danger with no shots allowed.
Despite numerous forays by both teams into the offensive third, neither squad managed a single shot until Texas freshman midfielder Emily Strouphauer forced a save on a blast from 19 yards out at 23:45.
Right back at the other end, Clemson managed a solid chance of its own at 24:31 but forward Mariana Speckmaier's shot from inside the 18 was blocked by the UT defense and cleared.
With both teams battling all over the pitch, the Tigers managed the best opportunity of the opening 45 minutes at 42:05 as Mackenzie Smith rattled a nine-yard shot off the outside of the right post.
Out of the halftime break, Clemson managed a corner during the 49th minute. Off the feed into the middle, the Tigers had a player break open near the back post, but the delivery proved just a bit too tall to get off a shot.
During the 52nd minute, the Longhorns got solid work out of Berg and redshirt sophomore Mikayla Flores on the right wing with the latter launching a cross into the middle. Hintzen raced in and attempted a volley from 13 yards but had it travel just wide right.
It was Texas that would grab the lead during the 61st minute as a long ball over the top found Hintzen in space behind Clemson's backline. The Garland, Texas, native raced in 1-v-1 against Tiger keeper Sandy MacIver and chipped a ball over the charging net minder into the twine from 19 yards out to make it 1-0.
The Tigers came desperately close to locating the equalizer at 65:15 as midfielder Jeni Erickson had a ball drop right at her feet at the top of the six-yard box. She got off a quick shot, but somehow Curry managed to catch the ball right on the goal line to preserve the Longhorns' one-goal advantage.
A perfect through ball up the middle located Billups in space behind the Tigers' backline at 69:53 with the Greenwood Village, Colo., moving in 1-v-1 on the keeper. The official's flag was up on the far side, however, signaling offside.
Clemson's offense kept coming as forward Miranda Westlake tried a shot from 19 yards out at 74:43 that rose just a couple of feet over the bar.
During the 77th minute, a foul call on Texas granted the Tigers a chance in a dangerous position just outside the right edge of the 18-yard box. The eventual feed to the back post found defender Dani Antieau, but her header from five yards out rattled off the woodwork before ricocheting out to the left.
Another quick attack by CU up the left wing provided another solid scoring chance at 84:00 as DiPasquale had a headed shot from nine yards travel just wide left.
Finally, after a number of quality opportunities, Clemson located the equalizer with 3:46 left in regulation. A quick burst up the right wing by Speckmaier ended with a pass towards the right post. DiPasquale raced into the play and managed a leaping volley into the twine from five yards, knotting the score at 1-1.
After each team managed a single shot during the first extra session, it was Clemson that would dominate the final 10-minute OT period.
Off a Tiger corner during the 105th minute, two quick shots inside the 18 were both blocked away by UT's defense.
With just 2:01 remaining in the second OT, Clemson midfielder Shannon Horgan found space in the middle and fired a 12-yard shot towards the left post. Curry dove quickly to her right and somehow managed to get her fingertips on the shot, saving it wide left of the upright.
Two more attempts by the Tigers over the final 55 seconds proved blocked and wide, respectively, as the Longhorns survived the late Clemson onslaught to force penalties.
Once in the shootout, both teams were successful on their first spot kicks, but a miss off the left post by CU keeper MacIver pushed Texas in front after two rounds, 2-1.
The Longhorns handed back the advantage on their next kick by rattling a try off the left post as the Tigers then scored to dead-lock the shootout at 2-2.
Each squad was successful on its PK from rounds four through six, and Hooper pushed the Burnt Orange & White back in front leading off round seven, 6-5.
Curry then dove to her right to stop an attempt from Clemson defender Sam Staab and advance UT on to the NCAA Sweet 16.
Team Stats
Hintzen, Cyera (10)
Assisted By: Billups, Cydney
Chip over keeper
60:47
Dipasquale, Patrice (2)
Assisted By: Speckmaier, Mariana
Service from 17, jumping kick in from 30
86:14
