The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
5-0-0
Sacramento State
3-2-0
Soccer remains perfect after defeating Sacramento State, 1-0
09.03.2017 | Soccer
The Longhorns opened the season 5-0 for the first time since the start of the 2008 campaign
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On a 100-plus-degree Sunday afternoon at Hornet Stadium, Texas soccer (5-0) got a 13th minute goal from junior midfielder Katie Glenn to boost the Longhorns both to a 1-0 win over Sacramento State (3-2) and to a perfect 5-0 record to begin a season for the first time since the start of the 2008 campaign.
For Glenn, the goal off a shot from 30-plus yards out marked her first score of 2017 and came off the second assist of the season from junior midfielder Kayra Dollas.
Texas and Sacramento State tied at 10-10 on shots with the Longhorns holding a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal. Having entered the weekend ranked fourth in NCAA Division I in corner kicks, UT managed a 9-3 advantage in the category on Sunday against the Hornets.
The Burnt Orange & White exerted pressure right from the opening kickoff with its offense managing three quick corners over the opening 2:05 of action.
Sacramento State soon settled more into the contest, finding some success up the left wing over the seventh and eighth minutes, but managing no shots.
It was the Longhorns offense that registered the initial shot for either team during the ninth minute. Off a corner, Glenn delivered a feed towards the left post. Waiting to receive the ball was sophomore forward Cyera Hintzen, who fired a shot from 10 yards out that just scraped the outside of the left post before hitting the side netting.
Following wide efforts during the 12th minute from redshirt sophomore forward Mikayla Flores and redshirt freshman forward Cydney Billups, Texas finally found paydirt at 12:11.
With the ball bouncing around in the midfield, Dollas corralled the orb and fed a ball ahead to Glenn in space. The Round Rock, Texas, product dribbled forward and launched a shot from 30-plus yards out. Sacramento State keeper Aaliyah Fesili was out off her line and couldn't get back in time as Glenn chipped the netminder for a 1-0 lead.
The Hornets had a great chance go awry in the 23rd minute as a ball fed up the middle found Kylee Kim-Bustillos in some space behind the UT backline. Unfortunately for Sacramento State, the forward's first touch betrayed her as the ball bounced right to Texas net minder Nicole Curry.
SSU had another chance at 23:28 as midfielder Caitlin Prothe tried a lengthy effort from out front but her shot bounced right into Curry's arms on two hops.
The match-up settled into a battle over the midfield until Sac State's Skylar Littlefield launched a try from 30-plus yards out that traveled well wide left at 37:27.
Out of the locker room, Texas managed the first shot of the half at 46:39 off great work inside the 18 as freshman forward Haley Berg fed a pass from the right side to Hintzen. The Garland, Texas, native was marked tightly by two Hornets, and her eventual shot from inside the 18 went wide right.
In the 51st minute Sacramento State earned a free kick from a dangerous position out on the right wing. A feed into the 18 ended up resulting in a wide-left header from 13 yards by midfielder Ariana Nino.
Glenn nearly got a second for the Horns at 52:33 as a cross in from Berg on the right side found her near the right post. Unfortunately, her quick one timer from six yards out was saved up and over the right corner of the net by SSU keeper Fesili.
The Hornets soon got the pressure cranked up again with shots in the 57th minute from Mikayla Reed and Littlefield being blocked away by the Texas defense.
As the match opened up, back at the other end, Hintzen forced another Fesili stop at 57:09 on a quick attempt from nine yards.
Glenn tried her luck again from distance in the 71st minute for the Horns but her try was saved on a bounce.
With 17:29 remaining on the clock, Sacramento State nearly registered an "own goal" as defender Kylee Smith headed a clearance attempt back to her keeper. Fesili appeared surprised, popping the ball up near the left post before catching it.
Two of the Hornets three corners in the match came during the 82nd and 83rd minute, resulting in a blocked shot by defender Amanda Mielke.
With the Longhorns wasting time off the clock whenever possible, Sacramento State earned another free kick off a foul in the 85th minute. Off the feed into the 18, Nino got off a leaping header, but saw her shot go wide left as Texas eventually finished off its fifth victory of 2017.
Texas Post-Match Quotes
Head Coach Angela Kelly
On Katie Glenn's goal: Her goal was one after my own heart. She was on the half turn and realized the keeper was off her line. Perfect placement and a fantastic finish.
On the feeling after the win over Sacramento State: Our squad was here to play. The game got cancelled (at California) on Friday, and we were ready. It's always tough for a team to sit out and have that much down time. It's a young group, and I'm pleased with how engaged they stayed. They're learning every day, and we've yet to put together a complete match. They're finding ways to win, so as a staff, we couldn't be more excited to be 5-0.
Junior midfielder Katie Glenn
On her long-range goal to beat Sacramento State: I just turned and saw the goalkeeper out. She was further out off of her line, so I just took a shot and hoped it went in. Being 5-0 is awesome. We've worked really hard this season, and we're just continuing to compete and keeping a winning mentality heading into next weekend.
Team Stats
Glenn, Katie (1)
Assisted By: Dollas, Kayra
Shot from distance beats the keeper
12:11
