Soccer continues its unbeaten run by defeating Little Rock, 2-1

Friday, August 25

Austin, Texas

7 p.m.

University of Texas

3-0-0

Little Rock

1-2-0

Little Rock

Texas

Soccer continues its unbeaten run by defeating Little Rock, 2-1

08.25.2017 | Soccer

Box Score

Goals from junior midfielder Kayra Dollas and freshman midfielder Haley Berg led the way for the Horns

Photo Gallery

AUSTIN, Texas – Under increasingly threatening skies on Friday night at Mike A. Myers Stadium, Texas soccer got goals from junior midfielder Kayra Dollas and freshman midfielder Haley Berg to rally past Little Rock (1-2-0), 2-1, and improve to 3-0 for the first time to begin a season since 2008.

The Longhorns out-shot the Trojans during the match by a commanding 14-3 total, led 8-1 in shots on goal and managed an 11-0 advantage on corner kicks. Over the opening three contests, Texas' defense has allowed its opponents to take just 5.3 shots per match (16 total) and 2.7 shots on goal (eight total).

Dollas' goal was her first of the 2017 campaign, tying the match at the 37:48 mark. For Berg, the score marked her second over her first three collegiate games wearing the Burnt Orange & White. Sophomore forward Cyera Hintzen was also credited with her second assist of the season by working a give-and-go on Berg's match-winning goal at 52:35.

Neither team could gain much of a foothold during the early going as neither offense managed a single shot at goal over the opening 10 minutes of play.

Despite a majority of early possession for the Longhorns, it was Little Rock that registered the match's initial shot and goal at 10:49 to nab a 1-0 lead. Off a throw-in from the right side of the pitch, the ball bounced in front of Arola Aparicio Gili. The Trojan midfielder leapt and managed to head a ball over the back line right to midfielder Doro Greulich, who finished past diving Texas goalkeeper Nicole Curry into the lower left corner from 12 yards out.

The Texas offense finally got on the board shot-wise in the 20th minute as sophomore defender Emma Jett tried her luck from 27 yards out. Unfortunately, the Coppell, Texas, native's left-footed effort traveled well high of frame.

Numerous corners for the Longhorns added more pressure on the Trojan defense, but Little Rock's defensive unit continued to clear the ball out of danger.

UT redshirt sophomore forward Mikayla Flores forced Little Rock keeper Megan Swanson into action for the first time at 28:07 as the La Verne, Calif., product's shot from the right wing bounced in on frame.

Finally, during the 38th minute, the Longhorns managed to locate pay dirt and dead-lock the scoreboard at 1-1. Off a corner, a ball was cleared via header by a Trojan defender inside the 18. The ricochet bounced straight out to Dollas, who wasted no time firing a shot towards frame that hit off a Little Rock defender's head before finding the right side of the twine.

Late in the half, UT sophomore forward Tecora Turner and junior defender Chelsea Surpris continued the shooting gallery during the 43rd minute as their shots were blocked and high of frame.

Out of the break, it was all Texas early on as Jett forced a save (52:13) and Little Rock nearly cleared a long feed into the middle of the 18 into its own net.

At 52:35 it was former club teammates Hintzen and Berg teaming up once again to push the Longhorns to their first lead. The dynamic duo worked a quick give-and-go with Berg receiving the final ball and slotting it home from nine yards out in the middle to make it 2-1.

With the UT offense swarming for more, Little Rock managed its only shot of the final 45 minutes at 69:02 as forward Quin Wilkes fired well high from 24 yards out.

Down the stretch, Berg, Jett and Hintzen all had shots either blocked or go wide while Texas junior midfielder Katie Glenn forced Swanson's sixth and final stop between the pipes at 82:27.

The Longhorns worked efficiently from there to prevent any further Trojan scoring chances while running out the clock on their third straight victory to open the 2017 campaign.

Texas Post-Match Quotes

Head Coach Angela Kelly

On Little Rock taking the early advantage: I think they had one shot in the first half and they scored one goal. Let's not bypass giving them credit; it was a great finish, it was off an organized set piece on a throw in. They've done a good job in their season, like scoring off of that set piece. For me, I just give them credit on their style and their organization. They were a tough opponent for us.

On her message to the squad at half time and the response in the second half: Different types of things to get them motivated to go and to run at this team. We had good possession of the ball the first half, but we weren't really getting our numbers forward. We wanted to make sure that we ramped it up, and that we were going to be committed to getting numbers forward and understanding the importance of building it. We talked just a little bit tactically about that, and obviously, they responded.

On the performance of junior midfielder Kayra Dollas and freshman midfielder Haley Berg: Kayra Dollas had an unbelievable match. She was all over the place. She created the first goal. Haley's goal was pretty special, but you're probably going to hear us say that a lot.

Junior midfielder Kayra Dollas

After Conceding the First Goal: We were talking about how we needed to come back strong. We came out a little slow, and I don't think we were expecting to get scored on first. All we could do was come back out stronger and try to at least tie it before half.

On Providing the Tying Goal: We had worked on their long throw ins, and I kind of messed up on it because it was their target that scored, and I was supposed to be working her. When I was in for the corner kick, I just wanted to get it back. I just placed myself on the top (of the 18), and when I saw the shot opportunity, I just turned my hips and shot it.

Freshman midfielder Haley Berg

On Coach's Half-Time Message: She was just calming us down and so was the rest of the team, like Kay and Chelsea (Surpris). They were just giving us advice and telling us to relax and telling us where the space was. When you're playing it's hectic, and you're trying to make something happen, so we just needed to calm down and see where things were open for us to get an opportunity to score.

On Scoring Her Second Career Goal: I think both goals were exciting. I think Cyera has really been the reason for both of my goals, so props to her. She's really been the reason, so I give all the credit to her.