Soccer moves into Big 12 lead with 1-0 victory over Texas Tech

Sunday, October 3

Austin, Texas

1 p.m. CT

University of Texas

7-3-3, 3-0-1

Texas Tech

9-3-1, 2-2-0

Texas Tech

Texas

Soccer moves into Big 12 lead with 1-0 victory over Texas Tech

10.03.2021 | Soccer

Box Score

Senior midfielder Julia Grosso scored the eventual match-winner just 7:51 into the match

AUSTIN, Texas – On Sunday afternoon at Mike A. Myers Stadium, an eighth-minute goal from senior midfielder Julia Grosso and a stout defensive effort proved enough to power Texas soccer (7-3-3, 3-0-1 Big 12 Conference) to a 1-0 victory over Texas Tech (9-3-1, 2-2-0 Big 12 Conference) and to first place outright in the current league standings.

Texas Team Notes

The Longhorns have opened league play at 3-0-1, and with 10 total points, currently hold first place outright ahead of second-place Baylor (3-0-0, nine points).
Grosso's goal was the 20th of her career, her fifth of the 2021 season and her sixth career match winner.
Freshman forward Trinity Byars registered her seventh assist of the year and has now recorded at least one point in seven straight matches. That marks the second-longest point-scoring streak in program history, trailing only a nine-match skein from All-American Kelly Wilson from Sept. 7-Oct. 14, 2001.
This is the fifth time in program history that Texas has been unbeaten after its opening four league matches and the first time since 2017 (3-0-1).
Texas now leads Texas Tech in the all-time series, 17-9-4, including 10-3-3 in Austin. Sunday's match was the 16th time in the last 17 meetings that the two teams settled things by one goal or OT.
The Longhorns out-shot the Red Raiders, 12-11, including 4-2 in shots on goal, and led 5-3 in corners.
"Run BMG" – The trio of Byars, Lexi Missimo and Grosso have now combined to score 16 of Texas' last 20 goals and 20 of Texas' 26 overall goals this season (77%).

The Details

The first shot of the match went to Texas Tech as Charlotte Teeter blasted wide-left shot just 43 seconds into the contest.

After Texas senior defender Emma Regan had a shot blocked at 3:25, freshman midfielder Lexi Missimo drilled a 22-yard effort from the top of the box right into the arms of Texas Tech keeper Madison White at 5:42.

Grosso threatened at 6:17, but her try from just outside the top of the 18 ventured just over the top.

Given another chance, Grosso wouldn't miss again as the Vancouver, British Columbia, native put the Longhorns on top at the 7:51 mark. The Canadian international played a ball from outside the top of the box to Byars on the left side. Byars fed a pass into the middle to Grosso, and the 2020 Olympic gold medalist drilled a 12-yard shot off a TTU defender on the goal line and up into the roof of the twine to make it 1-0.

Texas Tech's Hannah Anderson forced Madden into action during the 11th minute as the Texas net minder was forced to make the first of her two total saves.

Over approximately the next 20 minutes, the two squads fought back-and-forth throughout the midfield with no real solid scoring chances.

Missimo tried her luck again from the top of the box at 30:23 as her bending shot was saved by a diving White.

Texas Tech's most dangerous opportunity of the match came in the 33rd minute. Forward Kirsten Davis made a strong run up the left wing before slamming a 10-yard blast off the left post. The ricochet bounced straight out into the middle of the 18 right to the feet of Macy Schultz. She settled the ball and tried to pick her spot, but saw her 14-yard effort rattle off the crossbar before Texas could clear its lines.

Out of the halftime break, it was Texas with the first real chance as freshman forward Holly Ward drove up the left side and had a 16-yard shot blocked out for a corner.

At the 57:05 mark, Missimo gained control of the ball inside the 18, turned quickly and tried to drive an eight-yard shot on frame, but it was blocked and cleared.

Texas Tech's Macy Blackburn tried her luck from well out on the right wing at 62:37, but Madden was positioned perfectly to make a catch.

The Longhorns did a strong job of possessing the ball throughout the second half to use up time. Freshman midfielder Ashlyn Miller forced a save from 10 yards out on the right side at 72:21, and sophomore forward Teni Akindoju hit the right side netting from 22 yards at 74:27.

With time running short and Tech desperate to locate an equalizer, Charlotte Teeter raced up the middle of the box and headed a cross high of frame at 83:26.

Schultz had one final chance for the Red Raiders with just 36 seconds remaining, but her volley attempt traveled well over the cross bar.