Soccer dominates Western Kentucky in Sunday shutout victory, 2-0

Sunday, August 20

Austin, Texas

2 p.m.

University of Texas

2-0-0

Western Kentucky

1-1-0

Western Kentucky

Texas

Soccer dominates Western Kentucky in Sunday shutout victory, 2-0

08.20.2017 | Soccer

Box Score

The Longhorns out-shot the Hilltoppers by a commanding total of 21-1 and 11-0 in shots on goal

Photo Gallery

AUSTIN, Texas – First-half goals from junior midfielder Amber Stearns and freshman midfielder/forward Emily Strouphauer powered Texas soccer (2-0-0) to a dominant 2-0 victory over Western Kentucky (1-1-0) on a blazing hot Sunday afternoon at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

For both Stearns and Strouphauer, their goals marked the first of their time on the Forty Acres, while for Strouphauer, the score was also the initial tally of her collegiate career. Stearns previously scored in college during her two-year stint at Boston College. Junior midfielders Katie Glenn and Kayra Dollas were also credited with their first assists of the 2017 season during the triumph.

With the victory, the Burnt Orange & White improved to a perfect 2-0 for the first time since the start of the 2010 season. Texas actually began the 2014 campaign at an unbeaten 4-0-2, but tied Arizona State during its opener in Honolulu, Hawai'i, 2-2 (2OT).

For the match, UT out-shot the Hilltoppers by a commanding total of 21-1, including 14-0 over the opening 45 minutes and 11-0 in shots on goal, while also leading 9-0 in corner kicks.

The one-way offensive traffic started for Texas right from the beginning as sophomore forward Cyera Hintzen forced the first of WKU keeper Allison Leone's nine saves just 3:17 into the contest.

It was redshirt sophomore forward Mikayla Flores' turn in the seventh minute as the La Verne, Calif., native moved into the middle of the 18 and let a shot fly that was tipped up and over the crossbar.

The woodwork came into play during the 10th minute as a bent shot off Glenn's boot from 27 yards out on the left wing rattled hard off the crossbar. A Stearns follow-up effort off the rebound proved wide left of frame.

Solid build-up led to another Longhorns opportunity in the 15th minute as Glenn ended up in possession just inside the top of the 18. The Round Rock, Texas, product fired, but Leone managed to stick out her back leg just enough to deflect the effort away from danger.

Finally at 18:22, the Horns got on the scoreboard in taking an early 1-0 lead. Out on the right wing, Dollas attempted a shot, but mis-hit it across the goalmouth. The ball traveled directly to Glenn, who immediately lifted a cross into a crowd in the middle of the 18. Leaping up and over the scrum was Stearns, who headed a strong drive into the twine to grant Texas the advantage.

The UT pressure continued unabated through the remainder of the opening half with junior forward Alexa Adams forcing Leone to tip another shot up and over the bar from 28 yards out at 34:02.

With 2:42 remaining on the first-half clock, Strouphauer managed to swipe a ball from a Western Kentucky player about 45 yards out. The Round Rock, Texas, native quickly moved upfield into the middle of the pitch and unleashed a rocket from 28 yards that beat Leone to make it 2-0.

Dollas nearly struck pay dirt with only 49 seconds left in the opening stanza but her header was saved as the teams headed to the locker room.

Out of the break, both Texas freshman midfielder Haley Berg and junior midfielder Nakia Graham threatened with shots that drifted just wide of frame at 49:14 and 52:43, respectively.

The Hilltopper offense finally managed some brief pressure of its own about 10-15 minutes into the second frame, registering its only shot of the match on a lengthy try from 40 yards out by midfielder Nicole Roseland at 60:57.

The Texas lead nearly expanded to three during the 70th minute. Graham dribbled quickly up the left wing and crossed a ball to the top of the six-yard box. Waiting was Adams who chipped a shot, but the effort deflected slightly off a WKU defender in front of goal. That deflection allowed Leone the time to barely get her right hand on the shot, knocking the ball down before gathering it in for a goal kick.

During the 75th minute, UT sophomore forward Tecora Turner almost added her name to the scoring column, but her try from seven yards out near the right post was stopped via a Leone kick-save.

From there, the Longhorns worked efficiently to run out the clock and finish the 2-0 shutout triumph over the Hilltoppers.

Texas Post-Match Quotes

Head Coach Angela Kelly

On only scoring in the first half of the first two matches: Not worrisome at all. Our first goal was in the first 25 seconds on Friday night. I'm not sure when exactly we scored first today, I think it was something like the 19th minute. If you can get a goal in the first 10, a goal in the first 15-20 minutes, then ideally you score three a half. We're pretty pleased with that. We had 21 shots, and we created more corners in the first half. Regardless, we're excited to get on the board whenever it is, and we've really been concentrated on starting strong and I think the team is taking that to heart. On a Sunday too. Our mentality is that we go after it on Sundays. I was pleased that the players took that to heart and went after the team.

On what the team did well: I was really pleased that we got some more players in the game. I thought that those new players came in and got some really important minutes. I thought we possessed the ball better than we did on Friday. It's still the opening weekend. We have 10 new players and regardless of whether we denounce it, it's still just their second game. I was pleased with how we kept the ball, at least better than we did on Friday, and that certainly needs to become better and better.

On team improvements: I think we need work on our buildup play and being comfortable understanding situations in the game, and that comes with time. Also taking care of the ball, getting the ball in when someone calls for it and knowing when to keep it when it's not there. Just understanding the tempo and the rhythm of the game.

Junior midfielder Amber Stearns

On what coach Angela Kelly emphasized to the team heading into the match: Really, we were just focusing on ourselves. We respect every team that we play, but we really wanted to come out and work on the things that we were deficient in last game, so really switching the field a lot. Then just going out and competing and working for the win, for each other.

On what the team did well to create attacking opportunities: I think that we did a better job switching the field, like how we were working in our defensive shape was better. But also, everyone that came into the game worked really hard. The people on the flanks were really attacking them a lot, we had Nakia Graham come in and just was an immediate spark for the team. Everybody that came in played really well, so I think overall that it was just a really good effort.

On what the team can improve on: I think it's early in the season, so overall just getting more compatible with each other. I think as we continue to work, it will improve. We just need to keep working on our defensive shape overall and really hone in on that.

Freshman midfielder/forward Emily Strouphauer

On her goal: Well I had a lot of space to turn, my teammates made some great runs to draw the defenders away. I just had an open look, and I took it.

On what coach Angela Kelly emphasized to the team heading into the match: Going into today's match, coach Kelly really stressed the effort we'd have to give right off the bat and getting off to a great start out there. Western Kentucky's a solid opponent, and we just gave them our all.

On what the team can improve on: I think our chemistry definitely got better from last week, but I guess if there's one area to improve it'd just be finishing the chances that we have.