No. 11 Soccer fights off Baylor to stay unbeaten, 2-1 (OT)

Friday, September 21

Austin, Texas

7 p.m. CT

University of Texas

9-0-1, 1-0-0Big 12

Baylor

7-4-0, 0-1-0Big 12

OT 1

Baylor

Texas

No. 11 Soccer fights off Baylor to stay unbeaten, 2-1 (OT)

09.21.2018 | Soccer

Box Score

Redshirt sophomore forward Cydney Billups scored a “golden goal” 30 seconds into the first overtime

AUSTIN, Texas – The unbeaten run continues for No. 11 Texas soccer (9-0-1, 1-0-0 Big 12) as redshirt sophomore forward Cydney Billups scored a "golden goal" just 30 seconds into the first overtime to power the Longhorns past Baylor (7-4-0, 0-1-0 Big 12) in both teams' league opener on Friday night at Mike A. Myers Stadium, 2-1 (OT).

With the triumph, the Longhorns remain one of 11 unbeaten teams in all of NCAA Division I women's soccer. Seven of those squads are still completing Friday night matches at time of this release.

Billups' score at the 90:30 mark was her third of the season and her second career "golden goal," while freshman forward Mackenzie McFarland got UT's offense on the board and tied things up at 56:40 via her second career goal. Big 12 Conference point leader Cyera Hintzen continued her remarkable campaign with her third and fourth assists to improve her season point total to 20, while junior defender Emma Jett was credited with her second helper of the campaign on McFarland's opener.

The Bears out-shot the Longhorns by an 18-13 total and managed a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal, while UT led in corner kicks, 7-4.

Texas got off to a quick start over the opening 1:06 of the match as senior midfielder Kayra Dollas had a shot blocked at the top of the 18 and sophomore midfielder Haley Berg followed up by forcing a save off the rebound from 17 yards out.

It was Baylor that had the best of the early going, however, as forward Reagan Padgett got the Bears offense started with a pair of high efforts at 4:25 and 6:17.

BU would eventually jump in front at the 14:47 mark by grabbing a 1-0 lead. A beautiful cross from deep out on the right side was perfectly placed to the back post allowing midfielder Julie James to drive home a running header from six yards out.

The Burnt Orange & White nearly got on the board themselves at 23:21 as a ball inside the 18 ricocheted to Hintzen's feet near the left post. The Garland, Texas, native turned quickly and managed to get off a shot from eight yards out that chipped the outside of the left post.

It took a great play from UT's defense to prevent Baylor from doubling its advantage at 34:56. Taylor Moon found space and moved from the left wing inside the middle of the 18. She eventually tried a shot from 15 yards out, but the drive was saved off the line by Texas junior defender Atu Mshana before being cleared.

The Longhorns seemed energized coming out of the halftime break as senior midfielder Katie Glenn forced a Jennifer Wandt save just 4:44 into the second stanza.

During the 53rd minute, a Baylor foul just a foot outside the top of the 18-yard box granted Texas a terrific opportunity on a free kick. Hintzen stepped up and bent a shot around the BU wall, but it traveled just over the top left corner for a goal kick.

Finally, after a solid spell of pressure, Texas' breakthrough came off a set piece. Jett delivered a corner kick in towards the right post that ricocheted off a tightly-marked Hintzen and into the six-yard box. McFarland was stationed perfectly to attempt a shot, but her quick effort got caught briefly in a tangle between Wandt and a Baylor defender. With the ball still tantalizingly on the doorstep, another McFarland lunge found pay dirt as her four-yard shot tied the score at 1-1.

The momentum soon swung back Baylor's way as a cross from the right wing landed right at James' feet in the middle of the 18 at 72:09. The completely unmarked midfielder took a quick touch and launched a shot from point-blank range only to have UT junior goalkeeper Nicole Curry somehow smother the shot inches from the goal line.

The BU attack continued in the 78th minute as Giuliana Cunningham headed a ball on frame that was saved off the line by Texas defender Paige Hooper to preserve the tie.

Back at the other end, Berg granted the Longhorns offense some life by forcing Wandt into a diving save at the right post at 82:08.

Down the stretch, the Bears had several more golden chances to grab the lead only to be denied each time. Moon found herself in space inside the 18 at 86:38 but somehow mis-hit her effort wide right.

With just 30 seconds remaining in regulation and BU still buzzing around, the woodwork came to Texas' rescue on consecutive shots. First, Moon hit the crossbar off a header, and the ball bounced right back out front. Camryn Wendlandt followed up with a header of her own only to have that shot also rattle off the crossbar before finally being cleared away by UT's defense to reach overtime.

Once the first extra session started, it took just 30 seconds for the Longhorns to end the match. Hintzen started the decisive play by driving quickly up the left wing and crossing in towards the top of the six. The pass tipped off the foot of a Baylor defender near the left post but continued on right into the path of Billups. The Greenwood Village, Colo., native quickly slotted home from four yards out to end the 2-1 (OT) triumph.