It seems like Texas and Oklahoma State just can’t play without any controversy.
Six days after the football team seemed to fumble the ball while going in for the go-ahead score in Stillwater, Oklahoma State had a late call take an equalizing goal off of the board that would have completely changed the completion of the soccer match. But an offsides call took the goal off of the board, and Texas held on for the 1-0 win.
The evening began as a celebration of women’s athletics, with former women’s basketball coach Jody Conradt receiving a statue that was unveiled at the Frank Erwin Center. On hand for the night was former Tennessee basketball head coach Pat Summit and U.S. soccer legend Mia Hamm. Summit was coach at Tennessee when Angela Kelly took over the Volunteer program in 2002. Kelly and Hamm were college roommates at the University of North Carolina.
But on the field, Texas was putting its four-game unbeaten streak on the line against the defending conference champions.
Oklahoma State showed what it could do early in the game as it took the ball up the sideline, followed by a dangerous cross into the box. The Texas defense was unable to clear the ball, and the Cowgirls drew a penalty kick. The kick was taken by Carson Michalowski, but her shot hit the cross bar.
Texas took control of the game at that point, winning most of the loose balls and pulling down almost every single header. The possession paid off in the 24th minute as Hannah Higgins and Kristin Cummins combined down the sideline, with Cummins setting up Higgins for the goal.
Texas would continue to control the possession for most of the first half, and freshman keeper Abby Smith showed her skill set with a long free kick shot that went just over the goal.
The game got more physical in the second half as Oklahoma State tried to get the equalizer. It appeared to have happened in the 62nd minute, but the goal was called back for offsides.
The win extended Texas’ unbeaten streak, as it has won four of its last five games. After a rough offseason, the Longhorns seemed to have found their groove.
“We prepare ourselves the best we can out of conference and we get exposed,” Kelly said. “We don’t get a trophy for August and September. We’re here to win the conference, and we’re here to win the national championship.”
Texas took one step closer toward winning the conference Friday. The Longhorns are 3-0 in conference play and host Texas Tech and Kansas this weekend.
