No. 21 Soccer secures “Senior Day” victory over Oklahoma State, 2-1

Sunday, October 24

Austin, Texas

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University of Texas

9-3-5, 5-0-3

Oklahoma State

8-6-2, 3-3-1

Oklahoma St.

Texas

No. 21 Soccer secures “Senior Day” victory over Oklahoma State, 2-1

10.24.2021 | Soccer

Box Score

Senior forward Mackenzie McFarland celebrated by scoring her first career brace (two goals) in the triumph

AUSTIN, Texas – On Sunday afternoon at Mike A. Myers Stadium, No. 21 Texas soccer (9-3-5, 5-0-3 Big 12 Conference) celebrated "Senior Day" in style as senior forward Mackenzie McFarland scored her first career brace to help power the Longhorns past Oklahoma State (8-6-2, 3-3-1 Big 12 Conference), 2-1.

In the process, Texas extended its unbeaten streak to a season-best 11 matches dating back to Sept. 12. That skein ties the 2018 Longhorns (Aug. 17-Sept. 28) for the second-longest unbeaten streak in program history.

Texas Team Notes

Texas is now unbeaten (5-0-3) over its first eight Big 12 matches for just the third time in school history, joining the 2001 (8-0-0) and 2002 (8-0-0) UT squads.
Texas sits second in the Big 12 regular-season standings with 18 total points (2.25 points-per-match), trailing only TCU (19 points – 2.38 points-per-match). If TCU were to lose or tie at Texas Tech on Thurs., Oct. 28, and Texas win at Kansas, the Longhorns would secure the Big 12 regular-season title.
Texas extended its program record shutout streak to 552:56 (stretching over parts of six matches) before allowing a 73rd minute goal to Oklahoma State.
McFarland's brace was the first of her career and the sixth multi-goal effort of the season by a Longhorns player (Lexi Missimo & Trinity Byars – twice, Julia Grosso – once).
Freshman midfielder Lexi Missimo picked up her team-leading 10th assist of the season, while freshman forward Trinity Byars was credited with her ninth assist of the year. Missimo is now just the third Longhorns player to reach double figures for assists in a single campaign (Kelly Wilson – 2001, 2002, 2004; Kati McBain – 2000, 2002)
Texas' victory over Oklahoma State was its first over the Cowgirls since winning 1-0 in Austin back on Oct. 5, 2012.
Oklahoma State out-shot Texas by a razor-thin total of 11-10, while Texas led 6-4 in shots on goal and 5-1 on corner kicks.

The Details

It took just 2:17 for the Longhorns to grab an early lead over the Cowgirls. Byars took possession off a feed at the top of the box, dribbled quickly to her left and passed out wide right to McFarland. The Coppell, Texas, native pivoted around and unleashed a 10-yard effort into the lower left corner of the twine to make it 1-0.

Texas nearly had a chance to double its advantage at 3:50 as a long ball up the middle located McFarland on the run in space just outside the top of the 18. Unfortunately, the senior forward's first touch proved a little too heavy as Oklahoma State goalkeeper Evie Vitali raced off her line to corral the loose ball before any shot.

During the eighth minute, UT freshman defender EmJ Cox blasted a dangerous shot from the top of the box that ricocheted off a crowd near the goal line and out for a corner.

The Burnt Orange & White kept the early pressure on in the 12th minute. Off another corner kick, freshman midfielder Lexi Missimo's delivery into the middle was tipped up and off the cross bar by leaping net minder Vitali. The ball ricocheted back out into the crowd out front, but a Texas foul was called to stop play.

Oklahoma State began to settle into the match during the 19th minute as Hannah Webb got OSU on the board shot-wise with a try from the left wing that rolled outside the right post.

Just four minutes later, Grace Yochum also drove a shot wide right of frame. Amazingly, neither team would register a shot over the remainder of the first half as the squads battled over the valuable midfield space.

The Cowgirls came out of the halftime break on the front foot as Megan Haines had a shot blocked from the middle of the box at 46:14, and Ally Jackson followed with another blocked attempt at 51:01.

Texas soon turned the tables back in the Burnt Orange direction as senior defender Cameron Brooks had a shot blocked at 52:19, while senior defender Emma Regan fired high of frame at 53:13.

The Longhorns advantage grew to 2-0 at 53:57 following an impressive hard run up the left wing by freshman forward Holly Ward. The North Vancouver, British Columbia, product delivered a cross in towards the top of the six where Missimo managed to volley a quick shot on frame. OSU's Vitali made the save, but the deflection bounced right back out front. Waiting to head it over the keeper and into the upper 90 was McFarland for her second goal of the match.

Suddenly down by two scores, Oklahoma State began pushing forward hard with both Charme Morgan (55:26) and Gabriella Coleman (63:05) forcing Savannah Madden saves.

Eventually the work paid off for OSU as Grace Yochum scored off a corner by heading a seven-yard effort into the twine to slash the deficit in half to 2-1.

With the Longhorns fighting hard to hold possession and bleed clock, Olyvia Dowell forced a save on a long attempt at 74:02, while Yochum fired high a 85:30.

With just three ticks left on the clock, Oklahoma State's Samiah Phiri tried her luck from well out on the right wing. Her effort struck the very top of the right side netting as time ran out on Texas' victory.