Texas soccer finally capitalized on outshooting its opponent this weekend, beating Samford 2-0 on Friday and Illinois State 2-1 on Sunday at Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium.

“It’s definitely a good way to respond, especially from our weekend in Oregon that was not what we were looking for,” junior midfielder Sharis Lachappelle said after beating Illinois State. “We have better momentum going into home games and we knew that we had to execute.”

The Longhorns had 12 shots to Samford’s seven, which helped enable both sophomore forward Kelsey Shimmick and senior midfielder Gabby Zarnegar to land goals in the first half. Both scores were the two players’ firsts this season.

Shimmick’s goal came in the 18th minute on a rebound after Samford’s keeper couldn’t hold on to freshman defender Isabelle Kerr’s corner.

Zarnegar capitalized on a one-touch shot off a cross from freshman midfielder Katie Gernsbacher.

Illinois State provided more of a challenge for Texas. Despite a goal in the second minute of the match by Illinois State’s Rachel Tejada, the Longhorns responded with two first-half goals as they outshot the Redbirds 20-8.

Lachappelle evened the score in the 12th minute with a header on an assist by Shimmick. In the 43rd minute, junior defender Brooke Gilbert got a header off a Kerr corner kick to give Texas a 2-1 halftime lead.

The Redbirds had a chance to even the score late, after they were awarded a penalty kick in the 86th minute. Tejada took the shot, but sophomore goalkeeper Abby Smith guessed right, preserving the lead.

“I think they did very well to come back with two goals in the same half,” head coach Angela Kelly said. “I think that’s something that perhaps we have not been able to do last year. As the head coach, I see development within the mentality. I see a perseverance and a fortitude.”