Soccer knocks off Iowa State in postponed league contest, 3-2

Friday, October 25

Austin, Texas

10:30 a.m. CT

University of Texas

10-6-0, 5-2-0Big 12

Iowa State

3-13-0, 0-7-0Big 12

Team	1	2	Final F
Iowa State	1	1	2
Texas	1	2	3

Soccer knocks off Iowa State in postponed league contest, 3-2

10.25.2019 | Soccer

Box Score

The Longhorns moved back within a point of the top spot in the Big 12 regular-season standings

AUSTIN, Texas – On a blustery and cold Friday morning at Mike A. Myers Stadium, approximately 18 hours after its originally scheduled start time, Texas soccer (10-6-0, 5-2-0 Big 12 Conference) utilized goals from sophomore midfielder Julia Grosso, sophomore forward Mackenzie McFarland and junior midfielder Haley Berg to polish off a 3-2 victory over Iowa State (3-13-0, 0-7-0 Big 12 Conference).

Important Notes

With the victory, Texas remains in second in the current Big 12 regular-season standings on 15 points, just one point behind current league leader Oklahoma State (16 points).
Texas is 18-1-1 over the past two seasons when scoring first in a match and a perfect 8-0-0 in 2019.
The Longhorns have now won 27 consecutive matches when scoring two-or-more goals dating back to the start of the 2017 campaign.
Grosso and Berg continue their battle to be the team's 2019 leading goal scorer as both registered their eighth goals of the year during the victory over the Cyclones.
McFarland was credited with her second goal of the season, while freshman forward Sydney Nobles picked up her second career assist by delivering the feed that led to Berg's match-winner at 78:53
Texas out-shot Iowa State by a commanding total of 25-12, including 9-7 in shots on goal, and held a 5-1 advantage on corner kicks.

The Details

Iowa State had the better of possession over the opening few minutes, but it was Texas that registered the match's first scoring chance as Grosso blasted a drive over the bar at 5:50.

The Cyclones benefited from a 30+ mph wind in their face during the eighth minute as a cross into the box dropped right at the feet of defender Brooke Miller. Perhaps surprised by the sudden opportunity, she struck her eventual shot wide right.

With both teams creating chances, it was Grosso who again caused ISU problems during the 16th-minute. The Vancouver, British Columbia, native danced her way through traffic inside the 18 and fired a shot from 12 yards out that rattled off the inside of the left post before rolling all the way across the goal mouth.

It wasn't much longer before Grosso finally broke the scoreless deadlock by tallying her eighth goal of the campaign at 23:08. She out-raced an ISU defender to a ball at the top of the box, turned quickly and moved middle. On her left foot, Grosso unleashed a 16-yard drive that beat diving Cyclone goalkeeper Georgia Wimmer to make it 1-0.

Just 3:07 later, UT sophomore forward Cameron Brooks almost got into the scoring column as her shot rattled the outside of the right post.

The wind again proved a factor during the 33rd-minute as a long ISU pass upfield was knocked down by a gust. Texas junior goalkeeper Savannah Madden raced off her line, but the ball never reached the 18-yard box. Suddenly caught out of position, she tried to scramble back, but saw UT's defense save the day by clearing an eventual shot towards frame out of the middle of the box.

The Cyclones eventually drew even at 35:36 as a Texas turnover on the right wing turned into a 1-v-1 opportunity for Iowa State. Sub Tavin Hays dribbled into the box and beat a charging Madden from 15 yards out to knot the match at 1-1.

The woodwork denied the Horns for the third time over the opening half at 41:07 as Nobles' shot from the right side rattled off the crossbar before being cleared out.

Texas cranked up the pressure out of the halftime break as Brooks and Berg combined for a trio of shots over the opening 8:09.

It looked like Texas senior forward Cyera Hintzen might climb into the scoring column in the 58th-minute as she received a pass with some space inside the 18. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, the hole closed quickly as her 14-yard effort was blocked away.

Blessed with an opportunity off a free kick out near the left side line at 64:51, Texas didn't waste its chance. Senior defender Atu Mshana drove a long feed into the middle of the box. The ball ricocheted around inside a crowd before falling to McFarland as the Coppell, Texas, product drove it into the twine from eight yards to give UT back the advantage at 2-1.

Iowa State tried to utilize the strong wind at its back during the second half as Lauren Hollerna hit a shot from distance but saw it scrape just over the crossbar at 71:16.

Things got nervy for the Longhorns during the 74th-minute as Madden raced out near the top of the box to attempt a clearance. Her kick ricocheted off Mshana and an ISU player and back towards goal, eventually rolling just a foot or two outside the left post.

Texas eventually got some much-desired insurance at 78:53 to build a 3-1 lead. Nobles took a Hintzen pass out on the left wing and crossed to Berg in the middle. The Celina, Texas, native took a quick dribble past a defender and scored from 15 yards out.

With the Burnt Orange & White working hard to burn off the rest of the clock, ISU put together one final scoring burst. A long free kick by Hannah Cade rattled off the right post and back out into the box. Waiting to pounce was Kenady Adams as she slotted home to cut the Cyclones deficit to 3-2.

That was as close as Iowa State could get, however, as the Longhorns ran out the final seconds to pick up their 10th win of 2019.