The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Tigres UANL Femenil
Soccer knocks off Tigres UANL Femenil pro squad in spring exhibition, 3-2
04.07.2022 | Soccer
Freshman midfielder Lexi Missimo (brace) & freshman defender EmJ Cox each scored for the Longhorns
AUSTIN, Texas – On Thursday night at Mike A. Myers Stadium, a brace (two goals) from freshman midfielder Lexi Missimo, a goal from rookie defender EmJ Cox and a five-save performance from fifth-year senior goalkeeper Savannah Madden helped Texas soccer improve to 2-0 in the 2022 spring campaign with an impressive, 3-2 victory over Liga MX Femenil (Mexico) professional squad Tigres UANL.
For the match, the two teams tied in shots, 15-15, while the Longhorns managed a 5-0 advantage on corner kicks.
It was Texas that created the first chance of the match off a corner at 2:06 as Missimo's feed into the middle of the 18 was headed wide left of frame.
During the sixth minute, Tigres came close to a breakthrough as a cross from the left wing dropped into the right side of the six-yard box. An eventual volleyed shot rattled off the right post from about four yards out before the Horns could clear their lines.
Madden came through with a big save at 7:40 by racing off her line to stop a building 1-v-1 opportunity. The ball ricocheted from the save out to the top of the 18 where a follow-up Tigres effort was driven well wide right of frame.
After a good spell of possession from the Horns that was neutralized by several off-side calls, Tigres created another solid opportunity in the 18th minute. A cross from the left side located a player in open space at the top of the box, but her shot was mis-hit well wide left.
Texas' net minder was at it again at the 22:30 mark as Madden smothered a shot off a free kick at the left post to keep the match scoreless.
The Burnt Orange & White eventually struck pay dirt at 24:36 as Missimo swiped a ball just outside the top right edge of the box, raced past a defender and fired a strike into the left side of the net from 10 yards out to make it 1-0.
Tigres responded back 4:26 later following a turnover in Texas' defensive zone. With the quick change of possession and Madden off her line, an eventual shot was looped in from distance to tie the score at 1-1.
Just 1:54 later, Tigres made it 2-1 as a shot from 15 yards out in the middle beat a diving Madden to her right.
Texas kept the pressure on by scoring off a corner kick during the 32nd minute. Off a short corner, a feed was eventually delivered into the middle of the 18 where Cox battled through a crowd to drive a 12-yard header into the left side of the twine to dead-lock the count at 2-2.
Freshman forward Trinity Byars nearly put Texas back in front in the 35th minute by racing up the right wing and firing a blast into the right side netting from 13 yards.
Just seconds later off a corner, an eventual pass into the middle of the 18 dropped right to a completely uncovered Cox. Unfortunately, the Dallas, Texas, native's 10-yard header traveled right into the keeper arms for a save.
UT freshman midfielder Jilly Shimkin and senior forward Mackenzie McFarland each forced saves during the 41st minute as Tigres keeper Cecilia Santiago was forced to make a pair of diving stops.
Byars had another golden chance with 1:37 left in the opening half, but her shot from open space in the middle of the 18 was struck wide right.
Out of the halftime break, Texas re-took the advantage in the 54th minute as a one-two between Byars and Missimo ended with Missimo scoring from 12 yards out to make it 3-2.
Tigres created a chance with 28:38 left in regulation, but an 18-yard shot from the top of the box bounced straight into Madden's arms for the keeper's fourth save of the night.
Shimkin forced Tigres substitute keeper Ofelia Solis into action, just seconds after the net minder entered the contest as a sub in the 68th minute, as her 15-yard effort was stopped near the right post.
With 21:17 left in the contest, a cross from the left wing dropped right to Missimo about eight yards out in the middle, but her header popped up and over the cross bar.
Junior forward Sydney Nobles had a golden chance to add to Texas' lead with 13:35 remaining, but her header from eight yards out traveled just wide of the right post.
A Texas turnover caused a few hearts to skip a beat with 10:01 left, but a long Tigres shot from the right wing ventured over the cross bar.
Off a free kick from the left wing with 6:10 remaining, Tigres got a quick flicked shot from the top of the box, but Madden was again positioned perfectly to make a save.
That turned out to be Tigres' last chance as the Longhorns burned off enough time the rest of the way to finish off an impressive victory.
Texas 2022 Spring Soccer Schedule
Sat., March 5 at Texas State TEXAS, 3-0
Thurs., April 7 TIGRES UANL FEMENIL TEXAS, 3-2
Sat., April 9 HOUSTON 7 p.m. CT – Myers Stadium
Fri., April 22 ST. EDWARD'S 7 p.m. CT – Myers Stadium
Sun., April 24 UTSA 2:30 p.m. CT – Myers Stadium
