Soccer knocks off UTEP to remain unbeaten in Conference USA
Mean Green Senior defender Tori Phillips (24) chases Texas Junior Nakia Graham (11) down the field. Madison Gore
The North Texas soccer team (8-2-2, 3-0-1) defeated the University of Texas at El Paso (6-8, 2-2) 3-1 Friday night to remain unbeaten in Conference USA.
With the victory, the Mean Green are now undefeated in their last 41 Conference USA home games (39-0-2), and are unbeaten in their last eight games this season (6-0-2).
North Texas started the scoring early when midfielder Natalie McDonough scored her second goal of the year two minutes into the game. Forward Aaliyah Nolan scored in the 15th minute for her third goal on the season.
Playing a conference rival typically leads to more physical play, and tonight was no exception. There were 19 fouls and four yellow cards handed out by the referees.
In a game with three goals scored on offense, it was still the defense that stole the show.
“I felt the back line played outstanding,” coach John Hedlund said.”Our big trademark is our defense, but it was nice for our offense to get three.”
The Mean Green defense allowed only two shots in the first half, stopping any offensive momentum the Miners tried to gain. North Texas only allowed ten shots for the entire game, with five coming on goal.
Offensively, midfielder Katie Gernsbacher, who scored her fourth goal of the season from about 30 yards out, and the North Texas offense put pressure on the on the Miners defense throughout the game with 21 shots and ten on goal.
“Off the bat, we pushed everybody up and just played our game,” Gernsbacher said. “after a couple of games where we walked away not feeling like we played a good game offensively, today I feel we just connected the pieces that we hadn’t been connecting.”
A goal by the Miners in the 75th minute ended a two-game shutout streak for the Mean Green defense and goalkeeper Brooke Bradley, but Bradley was still impressed with the way her backline played throughout the game.
“As a unit, I feel we played really well tonight,” Bradley said. “The goal was unfortunate, but I don’t think there is anything the defense could have done about it.”
Next Up: The Mean Green take on the University of Texas at San Antonio at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Featured Image: Mean Green Senior defender Tori Phillips (24) chases Texas Junior Nakia Graham (11) down the field. Madison Gore
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