Soccer rallies past Gonzaga, 3-2

Sunday, September 4

Spokane, Wash.

3 p.m. CT

University of Texas

3-1-1, 0-0-0

Gonzaga

1-2-2, 0-0-0

Texas

Gonzaga

09.04.2022 | Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

The Longhorns got second-half goals from Trinity Byars, Liz Worden & EmJ Cox to fight past the Bulldogs

SPOKANE, Wash. – On Sunday afternoon at Luger Field, a spirited second-half rally powered by goals from sophomore forward Trinity Byars, freshman forward Liz Worden and sophomore defender EmJ Cox led Texas soccer (3-1-1) to a thrilling, 3-2 victory over Gonzaga (1-2-2).

Texas Match Notes

The Longhorns have now won 45 consecutive matches when scoring two-or-more goals in a match dating back to the start of the 2017 season.
Texas and Gonzaga managed both a 15-15 tie in shots and a 5-5 deadlock in shots on frame. UT registered an 8-2 advantage on corner kicks.
Texas improved to 2-0-0 all-time against Gonzaga and 1-0-0 in matches in Spokane, Wash.
Sophomore midfielder Ashlyn Miller recorded her first two career assists and her first career two-helper match in the victory over Gonzaga. Sophomore midfielder Jilly Shimkin was credited with her second assist of the campaign.
Freshman forward Liz Worden and sophomore forward Trinity Byars each registered their team-leading third goals of the season, while sophomore defender EmJ Cox managed her second of the year.
Cox's goal at 73:38 was her second match-winning score of the early 2022 season.

The Details

After two early Texas corners failed to produce a shot, Gonzaga took off on a quick counter up the right wing that ended in pay dirt. In possession, Giana Riley beat her defender in the right corner and crossed a ball into the middle of the box. Waiting in space to settle the pass and score from 12 yards out was Marissa Garcia as the Bulldogs grabbed a quick 1-0 advantage just 2:40 into the match.

Texas registered its first shot of the match at the 12:20 mark as Shimkin tried her luck from 25 yards out only to have it drift wide right.

Fifth-year senior midfielder Emma Regan kept up the Longhorns pressure at 14:28 and 15:52 as her two lengthy attempts ventured over the crossbar.

Off a Texas turnover, GU threatened again at 18:58 as Hannah Gray hit an 18-yard shot from the top of the box that rolled just outside of the left post.

After UT sophomore midfielder Lexi Missimo had a lengthy effort blocked at 27:19, neither squad threatened again until Worden fired high from 25-plus yards out at 32:38.

Longhorns graduate goalkeeper Savannah Madden was summoned back into action during the 35th minute as Gonzaga's Willow Collins blasted a 19-yard strike right into the net minder's arms.

At 43:05, Regan raced up into the play on the left wing and hammered a 16-yard attempt that forced a stop from Gonzaga keeper Lyza Bosselmann.

Texas' biggest chance of the opening stanza came with just three seconds left in the first half as a long ball up field dropped right into the path of sprinting senior forward Teni Akindoju. The Halifax, Nova Scotia, native dribbled into the top of the box in a 1-v-1 situation and fired from 16 yards, but Bosselmann raced off her line to somehow deflect the shot out to her left as the horn sounded.

It was Gonzaga with the first chances of the second half as Kelsey Oyler forced a save off a left-wing, 17-yard effort at 54:41 and Hannah Gray missed high from distance at 55:01.

The Bulldogs eventually added to their advantage at the 56:10 mark. With Texas unable to clear its defensive lines, a ball bouncing around out front ended up in Erin Healy's possession in the middle of the box. She chopped a shot straight down into the ground that popped up and over a leaping Madden and into the right side of the twine to make it 2-0.

It took the Longhorns just 1:08 to claw one back as Shimkin took control, moved up the right wing and passed ahead to sophomore forward Trinity Byars. The Richardson, Texas, native turned quickly and blasted home a left-footed shot from 13 yards to cut the Gonzaga lead in half at 2-1.

GU came close to a third at 61:58 as Garcia took possession in the left side of the 18 and forced another Madden stop by firing from six yards out.

Off a Texas corner in the 67th minute, Gonzaga keeper Bosselmann leapt to make a catch in a crowd near the top of the six. In a collision between multiple players, the ball ended up bouncing out of the keeper's hands and into the back of the net. The goal was ruled out, however, as a foul was called on the Burnt Orange & White.

The Longhorns finally managed to locate the equalizer at 66:53. Worden started it all with a mis-hit shot from the middle of the 18. The ball ended up in Miller's possession, and the McKinney, Texas, native managed to find Worden in space for a seven-yard finish to tie things up at 2-2.

Miller came within inches of giving Texas the lead off a 14-yard shot from the left wing at 70:03, but her effort bent just outside the right post.

Texas' spirited second-half rally continued off a corner in the 74th minute. Miller delivered a ball into the middle that ended up at the feet of EmJ Cox. The Dallas, Texas, product quickly rattled a seven-yard shot off the underside of the crossbar and into the right side of the twine to grant the Longhorns their first lead of the match at 3-2.

Gonzaga threatened right back during the 77th minute as a cross from the right wing was deflected straight up in the air near the right post. Madden raced over and leapt high in a crowd to make a catch as Gonzaga couldn't get off a shot.

At 82:03, GU's Maddie Kemp had a chance on a seven-yard shot from a sharp angle on the left wing, but her attempt traveled well over the bar for a goal kick.

Byars nearly sealed the deal for Texas at 86:51, after beating three Gonzaga players for a ball inside the left edge of the 18. She eventually fired a shot from 15 yards out, but it bent just over the upper right corner.

Gonzaga had one final opportunity off a cross with seven seconds remaining, but Garcia's leaping header from just inside the top of the 18 traveled wide right as the Longhorns prevailed, 3-2.

58' | TEXAS GOAL @trinitybyars 🤘

Assist by @jillyshimkin

Texas 1 - Gonzaga 2 pic.twitter.com/pkzOQOmfdU
— Texas Soccer (@TexasSoccer) September 4, 2022