Round one of this week’s pair of Red River Rivalry games slide in favor of the Longhorns as Texas soccer was able to hang onto its lone first-half goal to win the first ever soccer Red River Rivalry as part of the SEC.
After recovering possession deep into Sooner territory, freshman Amalia Villarreal whipped in a fast paced cross into the six-yard box. The pass was met by senior midfielder Lexi Missimo finishing that cross with a strong header past the keeper at the front post.
The assist raises Villarreal’s assist count to six and Missimo’s goal tally to eight on the season and her 52nd career goal, tying teammate senior forward Trinity Byars for the most goals scored in Longhorn history.
“She’s put her stamp on this program,” Head coach Angela Kelly said. “Just such an exceptional talent and we’re so incredibly fortunate she’s at the University of Texas.”
Despite her individual success, Missimo knows that it was a team effort.
“My job as a 10 is to get assists and goals,” Missimo said. “I couldn’t have done it without my team.”
A big factor to the opening goal for the Longhorns was a tactical switch, with Villarreal being swapped to the right wing before passing 20 minutes into the game, after starting the game on the left hand side.
“I shifted her and their defender shifted as well,” Kelly said. “She’s comfortable playing anywhere in the park, so that’s just something tactical we can do at times.”
A heavy back-and-forth first half that saw three shots a piece for each squad and only one of those shots reached the goal between the two both teams. The difference in the game was Missimo’s clinical finish at the 17th minute, and the Sooners’ inefficiency to complete any chances despite having 37% of their possession in Texas’ final third.
A mistimed tackle by junior defender Breana Thompson led to a penalty kick for the Sooners midway through the second half. Senior goalkeeper Mia Justus denied the biggest scoring opportunity of the game for the Sooners.
Justus again stepped up for the Longhorns, turning away a thunderous strike from Oklahoma forward Hadley Murrell from inside the box, with a strong two handed save. With no goals for the Sooners, Texas saw its ninth clean sheet of the season.
“I think she’s the best goalkeeper in the country,” Kelly said. “It’s not going to be if she’s going to play in the NWSL, it’s going to be what team … she’s that good.”
The remainder of the game was scoreless, though filled with constant chances on both sides. Texas ended the game with 13 shots, six of which were on goal, and Oklahoma had nine shots with five hitting the target, to finish off a very aggressive and challenging rivalry game.
“Welcome to the SEC,” Kelly said. “This is every day, every weekend … I’m really proud of the way our team is battling in the physicality room.”
The Longhorns will take on the LSU Tigers who await them in Baton Rouge on Sunday 1 p.m. C.T.
