Late goal gives soccer road win over TCU
Clay Massey | Staff Writer
A late goal by midfielder Karla Pineda from a set-piece was enough to earn the University of North Texas a 1-0 win over Texas Christian University. It is the Mean Green’s fourth straight win, this time in front of a divided 1,053 fans.
“It’s a great win for us,” said head coach John Hedlund. “TCU is a very good team, ranked in the top 10 in the region. We knew they were playing extremely well. It feels good to get that goal late and then hold them off.”
The game-winner, which came in the 86th minute, was a masterfully stroked free-kick from the left side of the box after a handball foul committed by TCU. Pineda’s shot nestled itself into the right side of the net for the lead and eventual win.
“It felt great,” said Pineda. “They’re our rivals so it felt a little more special. Honestly I felt like [her first free-kick chance] was going in, so this was redemption.”
The first half was physical with a combined 17 fouls between the two sides. Both sides could never find too dangerous of a chance, and relied on long balls to their strikers to attack.
The match would end with 27 total fouls between the two sides, with North Texas accounting for 16 and TCU for 11. The 16 fouls committed by the Mean Green ties a season high, first set against Kansas.
“It was really physical,” said junior forward Rachel Holden, who received a first half yellow card. “When teams play physical with us we have to play physical back. We can’t back down. I did get a yellow card, but the ref was a good ref.”
TCU had four shots on target in the first half, all slow rollers that C-USA goalkeeper of the week Jackie Kerestine had no problem handling.
North Texas had the best chance of the first half 15 minutes in. A free-kick earned just outside of the box was taken by set-piece specialist Pineda. Her shot was heading for the top right corner of the net, but TCU junior goalkeeper Shannon Coffer tipped the shot over the bar.
The second half was much crisper from both sides, who moved the ball better with passing. TCU could never find that clear cut chance however. The Horned Frogs used their speed to get down the left side of the field on multiple occasions, but they could not find the final pass.
North Texas on the other hand, while never dominating, found some clear cut chances. In the 59th minute, Holden played a crafty through ball to freshman forward Taylor Torres. The freshman was one-on-one with the TCU keeper and just pushed her shot wide of the post.
TCU would have one final chance to force overtime within the last five seconds with a corner kick, but the Mean Green were able to clear, improving their road record to 4-0 in 2015.
The ladies now head back to Denton to face Oral Roberts on Friday, September 18th.
Featured Image: File Photo
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