No. 14 Soccer fights off a tough challenge from UTRGV, 2-1

Friday, September 14

Austin, Texas

6 p.m. CT

University of Texas

7-0-1

UTRGV

4-3-1

UTRGV

Texas

No. 14 Soccer fights off a tough challenge from UTRGV, 2-1

09.14.2018 | Soccer

Box Score

Senior midfielder Katie Glenn scored her second match-winner of the year at the 73:53 mark

AUSTIN, Texas – Second-half goals from sophomore midfielder/forward Haley Berg and senior midfielder Katie Glenn helped No. 14 Texas soccer (7-0-1) fight off a tough challenge from UTRGV (4-3-1) on Friday night at Mike A. Myers Stadium as the Longhorns prevailed, 2-1.

The Burnt Orange & White out-shot the Vaqueros by a commanding total of 17-7, including 10-2 in shots on goal, and managed a 9-0 advantage on corner kicks.

With the victory, Texas also extended its non-conference home winning streak to 15 straight matches and its September winning skein to 11 consecutive contests.

Glenn, the reigning Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week, registered her second straight three-point effort on her fourth goal of the season and her league-leading sixth assist. The Round Rock, Texas, native has scored in each of UT's last three match-ups and has now tallied points in four consecutive contests for the first time in her Forty Acres career.

By virtue of a 55th-minute score, Berg has now "tickled the twine" in back-to-back matches for the first time in her career and owns three goals over Texas' last four contests.

Senior forward Alexa Adams dished her fourth assist of the season and has now tallied points in four consecutive matches. Junior forward Cyera Hintzen registered her initial helper of the year, while freshman defender Cameron Brooks was credited with the first assist of her collegiate career.

The Longhorns offense began buzzing around the offensive third right from the start of the match. Berg forced the first of UTRGV keeper Kinga Szemik's eight saves at 1:38 with a follow-up blast from Glenn drifting wide left just seconds later.

Texas came close to grabbing an early lead during the fifth minute as Hintzen received a perfect through ball into the right side of the 18-yard box. The Garland, Texas, product raced in toward the keeper and tried to cut the ball to the right before shooting only to have Szemik race off her line and manage to chip the ball away with a lunge of her left leg.

Berg continued to be a pest against the Vaqueros over the next few minutes, forcing a save from 15 yards out at 12:12, having a shot blocked at 12:51 and firing one from point-blank range that Szemik stopped at 14:14.

UTRGV finally got on the board shot-wise at 19:31 as forward Diandra Aliaga shot well high from 25 yards out.

The Vaqueros posted another chance during the 24th-minute after earning a free kick about 30 yards out in the middle of the pitch. Midfielder Gina Steiner stepped up and launched a drive just over the cross bar and on to the top netting.

The Burnt Orange & White continued to apply strong pressure over the remainder of the first half. One particular Texas offensive flurry, off a corner during the 32nd-minute, saw the ball ricochet around inside the 18 for about 30 seconds before senior midfielder Amber Stearns forced a save from 17 yards.

In the last minute of the opening stanza, UTRGV delivered a long pass over the UT backline that dropped right in front of an onrushing player only to have the official raise his flag for offside.

It didn't take long to realize that the second half would devolve into a wild affair as Hintzen was taken down inside the 18 at 53:05, forcing the official to point to the spot. Glenn stepped up to take the penalty kick only to have Szemik come up with a clutch save to preserve the scoreless deadlock.

The Longhorns didn't let the missed PK affect them as UT scored the opening goal just 1:46 later. Hintzen started the play with a cross from the left wing. Glenn fought off a UTRGV defender to win a 50/50 ball with a ricochet heading straight to Berg standing in the left edge of the 18. The Celina, Texas, native quickly bounced a seven-yard shot just inside the left post to make it 1-0.

During the 62nd-minute, the Vaqueros earned another dangerous free kick about one foot outside the top of the box. Forward Emily Zapata stepped up and drove a shot off the UT defensive wall. The ball rebounded right back to her, but her follow-up from 17 yards landed safely in the arms of Texas goalkeeper Nicole Curry.

UTRGV eventually located the equalizer at 71:57 as Aliaga started things with a cross from the right wing into the middle. Forward Shentatious Knox fought off a Longhorns defender and managed to slot home from eight yards out to make it 1-1.

Just 1:56 later, Adams started the decisive action for Texas by launching a cross from the right side towards the back post. Brooks camped under the ball and headed it into the middle of the 18 where Glenn was standing all alone near the top of the six. The senior midfielder quickly settled the pass and blasted home the eventual match-winner from five yards out.

In what would turn out to be their last solid scoring chance, the Vaqueros came close to tying up the contest at 77:22 as Zapata's 30+yard free kick rattled off the cross bar before being cleared away.