The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
6-1-1, 0-0-0
Gonzaga
6-1-1, 0-0-0
No. 17 Soccer clamps down on No. 23 Gonzaga’s offense
09.10.2023 | Soccer
With fifth consecutive clean sheet, Texas sets program record for most consecutive games without allowing a goal
AUSTIN, TX – Coming into Sunday afternoon's women's soccer match, No. 17 Texas and No. 23 Gonzaga were ranked number one and three, respectively, in scoring offense in all of NCAA Division I women's soccer. But neither offense was able to find the back of the net as the two programs played to a 0-0 tie after 90 minutes.
However, despite the score outcome, the Longhorn defense has now posted a program-record five consecutive clean sheets dating back to the first half of Texas' match against LSU on Thursday, Aug. 24. Behind a career-high nine saves against the Bulldogs, Mia Justus — a first-year Longhorn after transferring from Florida State during the offseason — became just the third different student-athlete in program history to post a streak of four consecutive clean sheets.
The Texas offense came out of the gates early with three shots, including two from defender Abby Allen, on the Gonzaga defense within the game's first four minutes. The Longhorn midfielders kept the pressure on the Bulldogs as Jilly Shimkin and Lexi Missimo both added shots on goal throughout the first half.
Trinity Byars, who was limited to only 59 minutes of game action, came out of halftime and was credited with a pair of shots within a minute of each other less than five minutes into the match's second 45-minute stanza. Missimo and Shimkin followed with two shots on goal, forcing the Gonzaga goalkeeper Lauren Towne to make two more saves.
The Longhorns were on the doorstep of putting their first shot into the back of the net during a nine-second span that saw Towne make a save on an Avery Clark shot on goal before Missimo's second-chance chip was stopped by a Bulldog defender as the ball was inches from crossing the goal line. A minute later, Missimo had two more shots on goal, forcing two more Towne saves.
Clark, Missimo and Shimkin all had looks at the goal over the match's last three minutes, but none were able to go into the net.
FROM HEAD COACH ANGELA KELLY
"I think (Mia Justus) is just high quality and that's why we are so excited to have her. To be fair, I think both keepers had to make some really outstanding saves today, especially when the match was coming down to the last five minutes. I thought we were going to be able to grab one there at the end, but everyone worked hard and credit to Gonzaga. I thought we battled and it was just going to come down to an inch or two somewhere."
FROM JUNIOR GOALKEEPER MIA JUSTUS
"I thought both groups played well considering how hot it was. Obviously, we didn't get the result we wanted, but I thought there was good effort by both sides. Forcing shots out wide is our number one priority, if we are going to have any shots against us. I think there's still some things we can work on, but overall, I think a shutout is important."
MATCH NOTES
- As a result of Sunday's outcome, the Texas defense will enter Thursday night's matchup at Baylor having not allowed a goal in its last 495:59.
- The Longhorns last allowed a goal at the 44:01 mark of the first half against LSU on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.
- The current streak is 56:58 shy of becoming the longest stretch of game time without an opponent scoring against Texas' defense since the 2021 squad held opponents scoreless for 552:56 from Sept. 30 to Oct. 24.
- Sunday marked the first time this season that an opponent has outshot Texas as Gonzaga was credited with 20 shots to the Longhorns' 19.
- Coming into Sunday's action, Texas had outshot its opponents, 195-47, in seven matches.
- Sunday's match marked the first start for first-year Longhorn Éabha O'Mahony since Texas' season-opening win at Long Beach State on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.
- O'Mahony played a season-high 90 minutes on the defensive backline.
- Only four Longhorn student-athletes played all 90 minutes of Sunday's game: Mia Justus, Éabha O'Mahony, Carly Montgomery and Lexi Missimo.
UP NEXT
- Having now completed a stretch of seven consecutive home non-conference matches, Texas (6-1-1) will hit the road to play a soccer match away from Mike A. Myers Stadium for the first time since Thursday, Aug. 17 as the Longhorns kick off Big 12 Conference action at Baylor on Thursday, Sept. 14.
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