North Texas Daily

Alex Lessard | Staff Writer
@alexlikechexmix

Earning its fifth straight shutout victory, North Texas (8-1) put away Oral Roberts University (4-2-2) by a score of 1-0.

Junior forward Rachel Holden was the catalyst for North Texas in the first 12 minutes, getting a shot and a header off inside the box but failing to score. The Mean Green offense went stale for the remainder of the first half, only getting off one more shot in the 40th minute.

The North Texas defense allowed six shots in the first half. Two were on goal, both saved by senior goalkeeper Jackie Kerestine, keeping the game scoreless headed into halftime.

“If we let teams stay around at 0-0, they build confidence and get opportunities,” senior midfielder Lindsey Hulstein said. “At halftime, our coach really stressed to come out with energy.”

Head coach John Hedlund’s squad responded early in the second half with headers from Holden and Hulstein inside the box in the 50th and 52nd minutes. However, both were once again saved at the net.

After a hard foul on Holden, senior midfielder Karla Pineda put the Mean Green on the board in the 74th minute with a penalty kick goal into the top right corner. The goal is Pineda’s fifth of the season, tying her with Holden for the team lead.

“When [Pineda] isn’t scoring, she’s setting people up,” Hedlund said. “She’s a kid that’s hard to take off. It’s going to be hard to coach next year without her.”

North Texas did not allow another shot from that point on despite being in a tough position in the final two minutes. Junior midfielder Alexsis Cable was given a red card in the 89th minute, sparking a big reaction from the sidelines and crowd. Things got even more hectic when Holden received a yellow card with five seconds remaining.

“When we see our teammates working really hard to win every single tackle and giving extra effort, it makes us want to work even harder,” senior defender Molly Grisham said.

Cable (red card) and Holden (five yellow cards this season) will be ineligible for Sunday’s game against Texas A&M University in College Station. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Even shorthanded, Hedlund said he is still confident in the team’s chances to extend its winning streak.

“This team can overcome any adversity,” Hedlund said. “That’s what makes them champions.”