No. 9 Soccer unable to rally during second half

Thursday, August 24

Austin, TX

7 PM

University of Texas

2-1-0, 0-0-0

LSU

2-1-0, 0-0-0

LSU

Texas

08.24.2023 | Soccer

Box Score

Texas outshoots LSU, but Tigers’ defense prevents Longhorns’ second-half comeback

By: Chris Allen Brown

AUSTIN, TX – While Thursday night's 3-1 loss to LSU will be a "learning experience," according to Texas women's soccer head coach Angela Kelly, it was also a memorable experience for true freshman Avery Clark, who netted her first career collegiate soccer goal during the match.

With 38 minutes remaining in the second half, reigning Big 12 Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week Trinity Byars, off a flick pass from midfielder Lexi Missimo, beat LSU's fifth-year senior Rammie Noel down the right side of the pitch and then crossed over Noel going into the 18-yard box.

After getting by Noal, Byars fired a right-footed pass towards the spot in the 18-yard box, where Clark immediately started a windup and fired the ball past LSU's keeper and into the bottom-right corner of the net.

Fellow freshman Longhorn Carly Montgomery nearly joined Clark as goal scorers on the night, but a first-half header into the back of the net off a Missimo corner kick was disallowed as a result of a Texas foul in the 6-yard box while the ball was in the air.

FROM HEAD COACH ANGELA KELLY

"I'm just really disappointed. I thought we battled the second half, but there was a momentum stretch there late in the first half that was tough to battle through. But, once again, every match is going to be an experience to learn, and we are for sure going to learn off this match."

GAME NOTES

Thursday night's contest marked the first time this season junior forward Trinity Byars did not score a goal in a match.
- Coming into the game, Byars had netted five goals in the Longhorns' previous two matches.
With her assist on Avery Clarks' second-half goal, Lexi Missimo passed Kati McBain (2000-03) for second on the program's career assist list.
- Missimo will enter Sunday's match against Iona with 35 career assists, just seven back of passing Kelly Wilson (2001-04) for the top spot.
Additionally, Trinity Byars was also credited with an assist on the same play, marking the 21st assist on her career and breaking a tie with Kelsey Carpenter (2004-07) for seventh place on the program's career assist list.
- She's now tied with Kylee Wosnuk (2000-02) and Katie Baruth (1996-98) for fifth place.
Thursday night's goal marked just the third time over the last three seasons that both Missimo and Byars were both credited with an assist on the goal that neither scored.
Thursday night's outcome marked the first loss at home for the Longhorns since Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022 — a span of 364 days — against then-No. 1 UNC, snapping a streak of 11 consecutive unbeaten matches at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
- The outcome also snapped a streak of 18 consecutive unbeaten regular season matches at home for the Longhorns, also dating back to Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022.

UP NEXT

Texas (2-1-0) will look to bounce back from its first defeat on the season when the Longhorns take on Iona at Mike A. Myers Stadium at 7 p.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 27.
- The Gaels are coming off a one-goal victory (1-0) against Le Moyne on Thursday, Aug. 24.
  - Iona has also dropped contests to Providence (0-2) and Purdue (0-8) this season.

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