Soccer ties at Florida, 1-1 (2OT)

Sunday, August 22

Gainesville, Fla.

11 a.m. CT

University of Texas

0-1-1, 0-0-0

Florida

0-1-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Texas	0	1	0	0	1
Florida	0	1	0	0	1

08.22.2021 | Soccer

Box Score

Senior midfielder Carlee Allen gave the Longhorns the lead on Texas’ first goal of the season at 60:01

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On a blazingly hot Sunday afternoon at Donald R. Dizney Stadium, a 61st-minute goal from senior midfielder Carlee Allen granted Texas (0-1-1) a second-half lead, but it wasn't quite enough as Florida (0-1-1) rallied for an equalizer at 86:50 on the way to a 1-1 (2OT) tie.

Texas Team Notes

Allen's goal was just the second of her career in the Burnt Orange & White and her first since scoring against Grambling State back on Sept. 22, 2019.
The teams tied in total shots (17-17), shots on goal (8-8) and saves (7-7), while Texas held a 7-4 edge in corner kicks and a 51-49% advantage in time of possession.
Sunday's meeting was the first between the Texas and Florida soccer programs.

The Details

Texas got off to a positive start in the third minute as freshman forward Trinity Byars made a strong run up the right wing before crossing in towards the top of the six. Waiting in the middle was Missimo, but the Southlake, Texas, native's quick volley was blocked away out front by the Gator defense.

At 5:40, a promising Texas cross from the left side of the 18 found Holly Ward in space in the middle. Unfortunately, the freshman forward's quick flick from 12 yards out traveled well outside the right post.

Florida came close to breaking in front off a free kick in the 10th minute. Off a long shot into the box, a Texas defender tried clearing the ball only to rattle it off the outside of the right post.

The Longhorns remained in early control of things as senior midfielder Julia Grosso (13:49) and Missimo (19:14) each had efforts blocked as Texas raced to an early 5-0 shot advantage.

Against the run of play, a quick Florida attack resulted in the first Florida shot of the match at 23:29 as forward Madison Alexander leapt high over two Texas markers to head a shot well left of frame.

Slowly working their way into the match, the Gators managed a great opportunity during the 25th minute. Midfielder Nicole Vernis got possession out on the left side and blasted a bending, 22-yard shot on frame. Texas fifth-year senior goalkeeper Savannah Madden quickly dove fully-extended to her left to make a save before Texas cleared the ball away.

Florida's Vernis had another great chance at 27:35 that was again foiled by Madden. Having beaten her marker out on the left wing, the Gator midfielder dribbled in 1-v-1 only to have UT's net minder race off her line and drop down to deflect the shot out to her right.

UF managed one more blocked shot at 28:19, but that was it for either team over the rest of the first half as the teams went to the break knotted at 0-0.

Ward got the Longhorns off to a quick second-half start at 48:22 as her left-footed try from 13 yards out on the left was saved near the left post.

The Gators threatened back at the other end at 50:41 as UF forward Kouri Peace received a pass a step behind the Texas backline. Freshman defender EmJ Cox raced back to cause Peace enough of a problem that her eventual shot was saved by Madden.

Grosso made a strong run up the middle of the pitch before forcing a save and a Texas corner at 59:27.

The Vancouver, British Columbia, native's work proved important as the Longhorns scored off the ensuing set piece. Missimo launched the corner into the crowd near the top of the six. Allen got up above everyone to head her first goal of the season into the upper left 90 for a 1-0 lead.

Grosso had a great chance to get on the scoresheet and double Texas' lead in the 66th minute, but her right-footed shot from 15 yards out ventured right to Florida keeper Alexa Goldberg.

With Madden off her line in the 70th minute, UF's Alivia Gonzalez nearly made UT pay as the forward made a quick turn about 40 yards out and fired just outside the right post.

With Florida making forays into its attacking third, but not connecting on the final pass, Byars tried her luck from 15 yards out in the 78th minute but hit her blast right to the keeper.

Texas nearly sealed things at 84:33 as the Longhorns broke open on a 2-v-1 situation. Junior forward Sydney Nobles crossed from the right wing into the middle to midfielder Ashlyn Miller, but the freshman's shot was somehow saved by Goldberg with her right leg.

That proved a massive play as Florida eventually tied things up with 3:25 left in regulation. Off a Texas turnover in the back, a UF pass to the top of the box found Kit Loferski. She moved to her left and fired a drive that was tipped by a diving Madden. Unfortunately, the ball rattled off the inside of the left post before going in to tie the match at 1-1.

Madden came up huge for the Longhorns in the 95th minute as the keeper used both hands to direct a Loferski 14-yard blast from the right side up-and-over the bar.

Just 26 seconds into the second OT, Missimo had a solid chance out on the right wing, but her 12-yard attempt flew wide left of the back post.

With about three minutes to go, Florida delivered a pass to a player just a step inside the 18. There was a dangerous collision inside the box, but the sideline official had his flag up for off side.

Missimo nearly ended it for Texas on a shot from the left wing at 109:29 as her 16-yard effort was tipped up-and-off the crossbar. Somehow, the ricochet popped straight up before dropping into Goldberg's hands as she sat on the goal line.