No. 11 Soccer ties in first conference match as a SEC member

Thursday, September 19

Austin, Texas

7 PM

University of Texas

7-0-2, 0-0-1

Alabama

7-2-1, 0-0-1

Alabama

Texas

No. 11 Soccer ties in first conference match as a SEC member

09.19.2024 | Soccer

Box Score

Texas scores twice in first half, Alabama rallies with match-tying goal late in second half

By: Chris Allen Brown

AUSTIN, Texas – In what was a dream start for The University of Texas women's soccer program in its first-ever Southeastern Conference (SEC) match quickly turned sour when Alabama netted the match-tying goal with seven minutes remaining in regulation before the match ended in a 2-2 tie after 90 minutes were played.

After just two minutes and 12 seconds ticked off the game clock, Texas freshman forward Amalia Villarreal scored the Longhorns' first-ever goal during a SEC match after the duo of Ashlyn Miller and Lexi Missimo found the Michigan native rushing towards an undefended Alabama goal as Crimson Tide goalkeeper Coralie Lallier was preoccupied with Miller's placement in the six-yard box.

Just over 10 minutes later, Jilly Shimkin made it 2-0, Texas, after the senior sent a shot flying past an outreaching Lallier and into the upper-left corner of the net for her second goal in her last three matches.

The two-goal lead for Texas stood until Nadia Ramadan converted a free kick opportunity from a step outside the 18-yard box with eight minutes remaining before halftime.

Despite a second half that saw Texas record 11 shot attempts — with multiple either hitting the cross bar or the frame — the Longhorns were unable to third their next goal to rebuild their two-goal advantage.

As a result, Alabama was able to tie the match in the closing stages when Isabel Smith sent a Leah Kunde cross into the back of the net, passed a diving Mia Justus. Both teams managed just one shot over the remaining eight matches with Texas' Avery Clark coming the closest to breaking the tie as Lallier was forced to make one of her eight saves with six minutes left on the clock.

FROM HEAD COACH ANGELA KELLY

"It's really disappointing, obviously after being up two (goals), but it's not as bad as it could be. We took a point. This league is so talented that people are going to steal points from everyone. So, we are going to regroup and be ready to go Sunday."

MATCH NOTES

Thursday night's match marked the 14th time that Lexi Missimo was credited with two-or-more assists during the same collegiate women's soccer match.
- It was the second time this season after Missimo recorded two assists in Texas' 6-3 win at SMU on Aug. 22.
As a result of her first-half goal, Amalia Villarreal has now recorded at least one point in four consecutive matches, the longest streak by any active Longhorn freshman student-athlete.
Lexi Missimo's two-assist performance on the night was one of just two two-assist outings around the SEC on the night.
- Vanderbilt's Maci Teater was credited with two assists on two VU goals against Auburn.
Texas was the only women's soccer program around the SEC to have three separate student-athletes finish Thursday night's match with two points.
With her pair of assists on the night, Lexi Missimo passed North Carolina's Robin Confer (1994-97) for 19th on the NCAA's Division I career assist list.
- Missimo will enter Texas' next match on Sunday with 56 career assists, which is tied with Notre Dame's Anne Makinen (1997-00) for 18th on the list.

UP NEXT

After playing its first conference match at Mike A. Myers Stadium, Texas (7-0-2, 0-0-1) will hit the road for its first SEC road match when the Longhorns travel to Starkville, Miss., to play #24 Mississippi State (7-1-0, 1-0-0) at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22.

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