No. 20 Soccer get Byars hat trick in topping Oklahoma in Big 12 Quarters, 5-2

Sunday, October 31

Round Rock, Texas

5:30 p.m. CT

University of Texas

11-3-5, 6-0-3

Oklahoma - Quarterfinal

8-11-1, 4-5-0

Oklahoma

Texas

No. 20 Soccer get Byars hat trick in topping Oklahoma in Big 12 Quarters, 5-2

10.31.2021 | Soccer

Box Score

Senior forward Mackenzie McFarland also scored her second brace (two goals) over UT’s last three matches

ROUND ROCK, Texas – It was definitely a Sunday night of trick and treat for No. 20 Texas soccer (11-3-5) in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex as freshman forward Trinity Byars scored her first career hat trick, while senior forward Mackenzie McFarland registered her second career brace, to help the Longhorns blast past Oklahoma (8-11-1) in the "Red River Rivalry," 5-2.

Second-seeded Texas advances on to the Big 12 Championship semifinals where the Burnt Orange & White will battle No. 6-seed West Virginia on Thurs., Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. CT.

Texas Team Notes

Texas extended its unbeaten streak to 13 straight matches dating back to Sept. 12 to tie both the 2006 and 2017 Longhorns for the longest such skein in program history.
Byars' hat trick was the first of her career and the 15th in Texas soccer program history.
Byars joined Lexi Missimo (four goals against UTRGV on Sept. 12) as Longhorns who've scored at least three goals in a match this season.
McFarland now owns two braces over Texas' last three matches after previously scoring twice on Oct. 24 against Oklahoma State.
Texas' five goals marked the most it has ever scored in a "Red River Rivalry" match against Oklahoma.
Byars now owns 12 goals this year to mark the sixth-most scores by a player in a single campaign in Texas program history
Missimo now ranks in a tie for second all-time in Texas history for single-season assists with 13.

The Details

After a lengthy feeling out process, it was the Longhorns who managed the first scoring chance of the match with senior defender Emma Regan firing high at 10:27.

Just 1:42 later it was McFarland's turn for the Horns as the Coppell, Texas, native battled her marker into the right side of the box before unleashing a shot that was saved on a dive at the right post by Oklahoma keeper Une Georgsen.

The Sooners managed their first attempt of the match at 13:47 as Ella Pappas drove a shot from the left wing right into the arms of Texas fifth-year senior net minder Savannah Madden for her first of six stops.

Neither team seriously threatened again until the 35th minute when Texas grabbed a 1-0 lead. It all started in the middle of the pitch as Byars received a Missimo pass and moved up field towards the top of the 18. She passed out right to McFarland who took a couple of dribbles before firing a right-footed shot into the lower left corner from nine yards out.

OU threatened again off a cross from the left wing at 36:04 as Makala Thomas chipped a shot up-and-over the crossbar from about six yards out.

It was Texas that eventually doubled its advantage at the 40:00 mark. Missimo again started things by blasting a lengthy try on frame that Georgsen initially saved. The keeper allowed a rebound which bounced straight back out front to McFarland. The senior forward quickly pounced on the loose ball and tucked a seven-yard shot into the left edge of the twine to make it 2-0.

Out of the halftime break, Missimo got right back into action again for the Horns at 49:27 as her 18-yard effort traveled right to Georgsen for a save.

Suddenly, Oklahoma began finding more space in its own offensive end. Amos took possession just over midfield and drove a long ball ahead right into the path of a charging Bailey Wesco. She dribbled up the left wing and battled her marker to score into the lower right corner from eight yards to cut OU's deficit to 2-1.

It took just 3:28 for the Burnt Orange & White to restore their two-goal cushion. Missimo played a through ball upfield into the path of an on-the-run Byars. She dribbled into the 18-yard box, rounded a diving keeper and scored from 13 yards to boost the gap to 3-1.

Byars struck again at 72:56 off a play that started in the back. Madden passed out left to EmJ Cox, and the freshman defender launched a long ball 40+ yards upfield. The ball dropped right in front of Byars as she dribbled into the top of the box and hammered a drive into the lower left corner for a 4-1 lead.

Oklahoma continued to battle as the Sooners needed just 19 seconds to cut their deficit to 4-2 on a Jasmine Richards goal from seven yards out on the left wing.

That was as close as OU would get, however, as Byars finished off Texas' five-goal scoring output at 78:21. The rookie drove up the left wing and blasted a ball at Georgsen that she initially saved. The ball deflected behind the net minder, and Byars continued her run to complete her hat trick into an open net from seven yards out.

The Sooners managed one final solid scoring chance off a corner during the 84th minute as Wesco had two dangerous shots blocked from seven yards out at the left post before Texas cleared its lines.