The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
1-0-0
Rice
0-1-0
No. 17 Soccer opens 2018 with a 3-0 road shutout of Rice
08.17.2018 | Soccer
Goals from Cyera Hintzen, Katie Glenn and Tecora Turner led the way for the Longhorns over the Owls
HOUSTON, Texas – It was a successful start to 2018 for No. 17 Texas soccer (1-0-0) on Friday night at Holloway Field as goals from junior forward Cyera Hintzen, senior midfielder Katie Glenn and redshirt sophomore forward Tecora Turner powered the Longhorns to a 3-0 blanking of Rice (0-1-0).
The Longhorns out-shot the Owls, the preseason pick to win Conference USA, by a 15-9 total, including 10-3 in shots on goal while managing a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Hintzen picked up the seventh match-winning goal of her career on a 31st minute score, while Glenn knocked home a 37th minute penalty kick for a 2-0 lead at the break. Returning from a season-ending knee injury that cost her the majority of 2017, Turner finished off a score at the right post during the 87th minute to finalize the scoring. Senior midfielder Kayra Dollas and Glenn were each credited with assists on Turner's late score, while junior goalkeeper Nicole Curry made three saves in recording her 12th career shutout.
Texas applied strong early pressure on Rice in the fifth minute as sophomore forward Haley Berg made a strong run up the left wing and crossed into the 18. With Hintzen streaking up the middle, Berg's pass proved a step too long as Owl keeper Maya Hoyer managed to race off her line and make a quick deflection. Off the rebound, Glenn followed up from 13 yards out but had her effort blocked over the end line for a corner.
Texas came close to scoring off a corner at 7:01 as junior defender Emma Jett's back-post service was headed across the goal face by Dollas before being cleared away.
Against the run of play, Rice nearly broke in front at 9:07 as a shot by forward Marissa Topolski, from a sharp angle 18 yards out on the right wing, clattered hard off the left post.
Hintzen forced a save on a long-distance effort during the 18th minute as the Garland, Texas, native turned quickly and launched a try from 28 yards out but right at Moyer for a stop.
With both teams continuing the battle in the offensive third, but not locating the final pass, it was the Longhorns that finally broke in front at 30:12. Berg won a ball about 35 yards from goal, heading up the pitch to Hintzen. The All-American forward took control, managed to chip a ball up and over two defenders and moved ahead before finishing into the lower right corner from eight yards out to make it 1-0.
The woodwork was again unkind to the hosts at 36:11 as Rice defender Caleigh Boeckx hit a long effort off the top of the right post.
The Burnt Orange & White doubled their lead in the 37th minute as a Rice foul inside the 18 forced the head official to point to the spot. Glenn calmly stepped up and finished the penalty to boost UT in front of the Owls, 2-0.
Out of the locker room, it was the Longhorns that registered the first solid scoring chance. Freshman midfielder Julia Grosso corralled a ball in space and dribbled right up the middle of the pitch before firing from 14 yards out. The Vancouver, British Columbia, native's shot was deflected on a dive by Moyer as the keeper somehow batted it just inches wide of the right post.
The Owls managed a stretch of solid pressure between the 59th and 65th minutes, but saw their only two shots from Madison Kent and Marissa Topolski corralled routinely by Curry between the pipes.
With 21:20 remaining, things took a turn for the bizarre as a bank of corner lights in Rice's defensive end went out forcing a brief delay.
When play resumed in semi-darkness, Rice managed a couple of shots at 76:28 and 80:53, but both ventured well wide of frame and never troubled Curry in net.
The Longhorns finalized the scoring at the 86:31 mark, and it all started off a service from Glenn. Her ball to the top left edge of the 18 dropped to Dollas who fired a shot towards the right post. Waiting there was Turner, and the Memphis, Tenn., product managed a quick chip into the net to make it 3-0.
Rice managed one final scoring chance during the last minute as a header by forward Annie Walker from near the top of the box traveled wide right.
Team Stats
Hintzen, Cyera (1)
GOAL by TEXAS Hintzen, Cyera (FIRST GOAL), goal number 1 for season.
30:12
Glenn, Katie (1)
TEXAS Glenn, Katie PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 1 for season.
36:56
Turner, Tecora (1)
Assisted By: Dollas, Kayra , Glenn, Katie
in traffic from close range
86:31
