SMU women’s soccer began conference play with a 3-2 victory over The University of Houston on Thursday at 7 p.m.
The Mustangs were 11-1-2 all-time against the Cougars. Last year SMU took on Houston at Westcott Field for a 2-1 victory. Taylor Barg and Bari Kesner tallied goals for the Mustangs. Barg scored the last-minute goal giving the Mustangs the victory.
The last time the Mustangs played Houston on the road was in 2012, when the two teams tied, 2-2. The only time SMU has lost to Houston was in 2010 in a close 1-0 game and the Mustangs wanted to keep it that way.
Mustang Claire Oates had three goals, Lauren Harrington tallied two assists and Rikki Clarke also added a helper.
If three goals didn’t impress you, don’t worry Oats’ tallied all three goals in the first 11 minutes of the game.
“Three goals in nine minutes is pretty special,” Head Coach Chris Petrucelli said. “That’s something that doesn’t happen very often.”
Just two minutes into the game, Oates capitalized on a Harrington corner kick, putting the Mustangs up, 1-0. Harrington’s corner kick shot high toward the back post where Oates came in and headed it past the Houston goalkeeper.
Only minutes later, in the 10th minute, Harrington and Oates were at it again on a corner kick moving the Mustangs to give SMU the lead to two.
Going into halftime the Mustangs led 3-1 and outshot Houston 6-5 in the opening segment. Coming back from halftime SMU’s defense topped the Cougars. Mustang defense was led by senior Olivia Elliott, sophomore Taylor Barg, Taylor Jackson and freshman Harrington.
In the final minutes goalkeeper Lissi Lonsberry made two key stops on long-distance shots from Houston, keeping the lead.
“We were able to hold on,” Petrucelli said. “Lonsberry made a great save, tipping the one over the bar. It was one of those games where you’re up a goal and you’re just thinking about defending.”
After beating the Cougars the Mustangs returned to Dallas to take on BYU for a 3-0 loss at Westcott Field.
The match against the BYU Cougars was a non-conference matchup.
“We had nothing to lose here tonight,” Coach Petrucelli said. “We’ll be ready to go in Florida.”
BYU is receiving votes in the latest NSCAA poll. They tallied three second half goals to come out with the victory over SMU.
“I thought we played with them for 60 minutes,” Coach Petrucelli said. “Then, they got their chance and they got it and the game changed.”
The Mustangs will take on UCF on friday Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. SMU Then heads to USF for an 11 a.m. game on Sunday Oct. 5.
