No. 23 Soccer battles past Long Beach State, 2-1

Thursday, August 30

Austin, Texas

7 p.m. CT

University of Texas

3-0-1

#RV Long Beach State

3-2-0

Long Beach State

Texas

No. 23 Soccer battles past Long Beach State, 2-1

08.30.2018 | Soccer

Box Score

Freshman forward Mackenzie McFarland scored her first career goal and match-winner for UT at 61:48

AUSTIN, Texas – On Thursday night at Mike A. Myers Stadium, junior forward Cyera Hintzen's fifth goal of the season and freshman forward Mackenzie McFarland's first career goal and match-winner helped No. 23 Texas soccer (3-0-1) remain unbeaten with a 2-1 triumph over Long Beach State (3-2-0).

With the victory, the Burnt Orange & White stretched their non-conference home winning streak to 11 straight matches and improved to 9-0-1 over their last 10 August contests dating back to 2016.

So far during the 2018 campaign, Texas has faced a daunting schedule including three preseason picks for conference champion (Rice – Conference USA; North Carolina – Atlantic Coast Conference; UCF – American Athletic Conference) and one squad tabbed to finish second just two points out of first (Long Beach State – second in the Big West Conference).

Hintzen's goal marked her Big 12 Conference-leading fifth of the season and stretched her scoring streak to four consecutive matches. That tied the Garland, Texas, product and reigning United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Week for the second-longest scoring streak in school history, just one from equaling Niki Arlitt's record of five straight matches with a goal from Sept. 14-28, 2007.

For McFarland, her first collegiate goal also went down as her initial career match-winner at the 61:48 mark and came off senior midfielder Kayra Dollas' second assist of the year.

Both teams managed 11 shots and four corner kicks during the match with the 49ers holding a slim 5-3 advantage in shots on goal.

The two squads took time to settle into the contest as the first shot of the match didn't occur until the ninth minute as LBSU midfielder Makayla Soll tried her luck from 25+ yards out, but drove her shot right at UT junior goalkeeper Nicole Curry.

For Texas, redshirt sophomore forward Cydney Billups had a great chance to boost the Horns to an early lead. The Greenwood Village, Colo., native forced a turnover and raced in 1-v-1 on Long Beach State keeper Imani McDonald, but pulled her 11-yard effort wide left of frame.

With both teams earning corners, but not getting off any shots, it was the Longhorns that struck pay dirt first at 18:39.

Out on the right edge of the 18-yard box, Hintzen took possession, turned quickly around a defender and moved middle. Once in space, the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list inclusion bent a beautiful, left-footed drive from 22 yards out into the left upper 90 to make it 1-0.

The 49ers tried to answer back immediately as dangerous forward Ashley Gonzales fired high of frame at 19:55 and 23:37 before forcing Curry into one of her four saves on a dive at 30:25.

With time running out in the opening half, LBSU earned a corner. Delivered in towards the left post, a 49er player corralled the ball briefly just outside the six-yard box, but was immediately dispossessed on a great defensive effort by Texas freshman midfielder Carlee Allen to end the threat.

Long Beach State looked like an energized team out of the halftime break, needing just 4:58 to locate the equalizer.

A quick shot from about 10 yards out in the middle of the 18 by Nadiyah Siqueros was blocked by UT's defense, but the ball popped up in the air. It ended up dropping right at the feet of Gonzales, who quickly tucked home the tying goal from six yards out to make it 1-1.

The 49ers continued to pressure over the next 10 minutes or so until Hintzen forced a McDonald save to alter the momentum.

Just 33 seconds later, Dollas launched a try from 30+ yards out that rattled off the crossbar. Already waiting inside the 18, McFarland pounced on the ricochet and blasted home her first career goal into the left side of the twine for a 2-1 advantage at 61:48.

Things were almost deadlocked again during the 69th minute as LBSU's Sierra Castles received a perfect ball over the top of UT's backline and raced in 1-v-1 against Curry. She appeared to rush her shot, however, and pulled it wide left as the 49ers missed a huge opportunity.

Texas had the run of the play down the stretch, until the last two minutes when the 49ers launched one last spirited assault as shots by Taylor Bistline and Gonzales were blocked and wide of frame, respectively.

Texas Post-Match Quotes

Head Coach Angela Kelly

On the last second pressure by Long Beach: Let's credit Long Beach State, they're a very well coached team. Windy conditions made the ball fly differently, and they had a lot of numbers forward. We wanted to try and close out a game and not give them any scoring opportunities in the last five minutes. It turned out on the positive end, and we are pleased with the win.

On team having to find a match-winning goal in second half: I am very pleased with that because it means that they have to fight. If you look at Long Beach State, they took UCLA to the last two seconds of the match. They are a quality opponent. Last week we faced two preseason high-ranked teams. We started school yesterday, and there were some players that had class till 5 p.m. CT and there are a ton of different factors, but once again, it's a lot better to teach off of a win, and we are excited about that. Mackenzie McFarland scored one goal off one shot. What a great way to start her freshman campaign, and that's just great scoring efficiency.

Junior forward Cyera Hintzen

On her fifth goal of the season: Typically, when you go across the box you get nervous because the defender can poke it away, but I heard someone behind me yell shoot it. I took that chance, and I was excited to see it go in.

Freshman forward Mackenzie McFarland

On her first career goal: I couldn't have done it without my teammates. They gave me a great shot, and I kept composed and just finished it off.