The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
13-4-3 (5-3-1Big12)
#14 West Virginia
13-4-3 (7-2Big 12)
No. 18 Soccer falls to No. 14 West Virginia in Big 12 semifinals, 1-0
11.02.2018 | Soccer
The Longhorns will find out their NCAA Tournament road on Mon., Nov. 5, at 3:30 p.m. CT
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On a cold Friday night at the Swope Soccer Village, a 64th-minute goal proved enough for No. 14 West Virginia (13-4-3) as the Mountaineers knocked off No. 18 Texas (13-4-3) in the Big 12 Championship semifinals, 1-0.
With the loss, the Longhorns now await word of their NCAA Tournament road, which will be unveiled during the annual NCAA Selection Show broadcast through NCAA.com on Mon., Nov. 5, at 3:30 p.m. CT.
Junior goalkeeper Nicole Curry was strong between the pipes for UT with a single-season-tying seven saves, while sophomore midfielder Haley Berg and redshirt sophomore Cydney Billups led the offense with three and two shots, respectively.
It took just 1:20 for the Mountaineers to force Curry into action as midfielder Addison Clark launched a 16-yard effort that UT's keeper deflected before covering.
The Longhorns began settling into the match around the 10th minute as good work up the right wing by senior forward Alexa Adams earned UT its first corner.
During the 12th minute, freshman midfielder Julia Grosso registered Texas' first shot as her long distance effort drifted just outside the right post.
With the Mountaineers buzzing around, the Longhorns managed two great opportunities of their own during the 17th and 23rd minutes. Berg was involved in both as her 25-yard try at 16:45 was blasted right at WVU keeper Rylee Foster. At 22:13, a ball up field bounced over a leaping WVU defender and dropped right to Berg's feet in some space. The Celina, Texas, native tried a quick volley while falling down, but the effort missed just outside the upper left 90.
One of the best chances of the match for the Burnt Orange & White came off a set piece at the 27:00 mark. A corner kick was played in towards the back post. Senior defender Chelsea Surpris managed to out-leap her marker and headed a threatening ball towards the right edge of goal. A combination of a WVU defender and Foster managed to save the shot off the line to keep the contest scoreless.
During the 37th minute, West Virginia nearly broke in front as a dangerous cross from the left wing found a Mountaineer streaking in at the back post, but her 10-yard volley went high.
A strong finish to the first stanza continued out of the halftime break for West Virginia as Sh'Nia Gordon and Nadya Gill each forced Curry saves during the 49th minute.
Freshman defender Emma Regan saved the match for the moment for Texas in the 50th minute as the Vancouver, British Columbia, product used her right foot to deflect a Bianca St. Georges header off the line near the left post.
One of the biggest calls of the match for the Longhorns came during the 60th minute. With Texas heading upfield, a contested pass was lifted ahead that Berg out-fought a WVU defender to possess. With nothing but space in front of the sophomore midfielder, play was simultaneously whistled to a halt because of a foul back near midfield. Off the ensuing free kick opportunity, Billups managed a long header, but it rolled in for an easy Foster stop.
With the Mountaineers continuously creating opportunities, the goal finally came for WVU at 63:31. Gill found space and dribbled upfield towards the top of the 18 before delivering a through ball between defenders to Gordon who finished just inside the left post from 15 yards out.
Texas nearly located the equalizer just a few minutes later as senior midfielder Katie Glenn's cross from the right side curled directly into Billups' path in the middle of the 18. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, the Denver, Colo., native's running chip while tightly marked ventured outside the left post.
With time beginning to run short, the Horns had another chance off a free kick during the 83th minute. From the left wing, junior defender Emma Jett delivered a feed into the 18 that slipped between goalkeeper Foster's hands. With a loose ball near the right post, no Longhorns player could get on the end of it as WVU eventually cleared its lines.
One final chance by Regan from distance at 88:17 was blocked by the Mountaineer defense as West Virginia finished off a 1-0 triumph.
Team Stats
Gordon, Sh'Nia (7)
Assisted By: Gill, Nadya
Pass split the defense, slotted low righ
63:31
