No. 11 Soccer drops 2-1 decision at No. 23 Colorado

Sunday, September 1

Boulder, Colorado

2 p.m. CT

University of Texas

1-2-0, 0-0-0

#RV Colorado

4-0-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Texas	0	1	1
Colorado	0	2	2

No. 11 Soccer drops 2-1 decision at No. 23 Colorado

09.01.2019 | Soccer

Box Score

The Longhorns struck the underside of the cross bar on a tying penalty kick attempt with one second left

BOULDER, Colo. – On a 97-degree Sunday afternoon at Prentup Field, the woodwork proved very unkind to No. 11 Texas soccer (1-2-0) as a tying penalty kick attempt, with one second remaining in regulation, rattled off the underside of the cross bar and was cleared away to complete a 2-1, Colorado (4-0-0) victory.

Important Notes

Sophomore midfielder Julia Grosso scored her team-leading third goal to establish a new career single-season high over just three 2019 contests.
Two of Texas' three matches this season have now been settled on penalty kicks with under five seconds left in regulation. UT preserved a 4-3 win over Gonzaga back on Aug. 22 when junior keeper Savannah Madden made a PK stop with five ticks remaining.
Texas out-shot the Buffaloes by a 19-16 margin, but trailed 6-4 in shots on goal and 3-2 in corner kicks.
This marks the first time Texas has lost consecutive regular-season matches since way back over Oct. 23-28, 2016.

The Details

After a lengthy feeling out process, it was Colorado that managed the first shot of the contest for either team as forward Taylor Kornieck blasted well over the bar from distance at 11:37.

Following a nice build-up from the back by the Longhorns, freshman forward Sydney Nobles got the Horns on the board shot-wise in the 14th minute as her drive from the top of the 18 traveled just outside the left post.

The Burnt Orange & White continued to press over the next few minutes with a long effort from senior forward Cyera Hintzen getting blocked out for a corner at 17:24. On the ensuing set piece, junior midfielder Haley Berg delivered a perfect ball inside the 18 as sophomore midfielder Carlee Allen rose over everyone, but pushed her header wide right.

The Buffaloes created a solid scoring chance in the 29th minute on a run up the right wing but Libby Geraghty hit her shot across the face of goal and outside the left upright.

Off a CU corner, Texas freshman forward Teni Akindoju took off on a quick counter up the right side. She eventually crossed into the middle to Grosso, who found Hintzen. The senior forward turned quickly but her shot from 18+ went wide right.

Colorado's best scoring chance of the opening half came at 42:36 as a long ball found Geraghty in some space. With a Texas defender trying to recover, Madden raced off her line and made a sliding stop in a 1-v-1 situation to preserve the clean sheet.

Out of the halftime break, it took just 1:47 for the Buffaloes to grab the lead. With CU in possession out on the right wing, a cross was played into the middle to Tessa Barton. The forward pivoted quickly and managed to sneak a 14-yard shot just inside the left post for a 1-0 advantage.

Back at the other end, Berg forced Colorado keeper Jalen Tompkins into action at 51:03 as her 19-yard shot from the top of the box rolled in on frame.

Texas' Grosso tried her luck from 28 yards out at 57:32, but her dipping drive ventured over the cross bar and out for a goal kick.

Colorado doubled its lead at 62:03 as a Texas clearance out of the back was intercepted about 45 yards out. The ball was played up the right wing and crossed over everyone towards the left post to Stephanie Zuniga. She settled the pass and beat Madden from 10 yards out to make it 2-0.

Back at the other end, Hintzen tried to get Texas on the board at 62:23 as her effort forced a Tompkins diving stop near the left post.

The Longhorns finally pulled a goal back at 72:29 on a great individual effort by Grosso. The Vancouver, British Columbia, native received a pass, crossed midfield and won a 1-on-1 battle with a Colorado player despite getting knocked to the ground. The sophomore midfielder jumped up quickly and began a weaving run all the way into the 18 before scoring from 17 yards into the lower right corner to cut the UT deficit to 2-1.

With Texas pressing for the late equalizer, Hintzen forced another save on a sliding effort at 82:29.

With time running short, the Longhorns managed to get the ball back inside the 18 where the head official called a foul with just one second left in the clock.

Unfortunately for UT, the resulting penalty kick attempt was rattled off the underside of the cross bar and cleared out to end the Colorado win.