Defensive strength for Texas women’s soccer helped the offense build pressure and take a commanding 4-1 win Thursday night over LSU at Mike A. Meyers Stadium. The performance marked the first time the Longhorns scored four goals in a Southeastern Conference game since joining the conference.
Going into Thursday’s game, Texas had only allowed opponents to find the back of the net 13 times this season, for an average of only one goal per game. LSU’s defense, by comparison, has allowed 26 goals this season.
LSU tested Texas’ defense early, putting three shots on goal in the first 18 minutes. Three saves from senior goalkeeper Bayliss Flynn allowed the Longhorn offense to find their rhythm.
Texas broke through in the 20th minute when sophomore Ava McDonald created space and found freshman midfielder Caroline Swann with a savvy assist. Swann slotted the ball in the top corner for her first goal as a Longhorn, putting Texas up 1-0.
“It was so surreal. I was so excited,” Swann said. “I was also excited that we scored. I feel like (the) first half, it was kind of rocky, but we definitely came out strong and with a lot of energy.”
The Longhorns doubled their lead right before halftime. In the 40th minute, on a counterattack opportunity, sophomore defender Mya Brandon played a ball over the top of LSU’s back line to McDonald, who controlled it and shot it past the keeper and put Texas up 2-0.
At halftime, the offenses looked similar statistically. LSU tallied six shots with three shots on target, and Texas had eight total shots with five on target. The difference ultimately came on defense. Texas’ back line held strong, and the offense was able to capitalize on LSU’s weak points.
The Longhorns carried that momentum into the second half. In the 47th minute, junior midfielder Amalia Villarreal played the ball into the box from a free kick for sophomore midfielder Audrey Bryant, who scored in her second straight game off a perfectly timed header.
Defense continued to hold it down, but a costly mistake in the 63rd minute allowed LSU to move for a goal.
Fifth-year midfielder Kelsey Major and junior midfielder Linka Ono assisted senior forward Ava Galligan for the LSU goal in the 64th minute. The Tigers looked to feed off that spark, pressuring Texas’ back line repeatedly as the second half continued.
One slip-up didn’t change the story. The Longhorns’ defensive composure and ability to calmly block LSU’s efforts allowed the offense to keep up the pressure.
A handball by LSU’s defense in the penalty area gave Texas a penalty kick, and Villarreal slotted it away in the bottom-left corner to make it 4-1.
While LSU ended the match with 18 shots compared to Texas’ 14, it was ultimately the Longhorns’ defense that, yet again, proved to be the game changer.
“More than anything, though, I thought we defended well, (which) then allowed us to attack well,” head coach Margueritte Bates said postgame.
The Longhorns look ahead to Sunday when they are set to face South Carolina at home.
