Maybe it was just a strange coincidence, but the lunar eclipsepresided over some strange goings on during the women’ssoccer game against the no. 21 University of Texas (11-5-2, 6-3-1Big 12) at Westcott field Wednesday night.
With 20 seconds remaining in the second overtime and the gametied at two, senior forward Jill Heinemann was fouled deep inLonghorn territory. On the ensuing quick free kick, sophomoreOlivia O’Rear was taken down from behind as the Longhornsstruggled to get back, all this occurring with 15 secondsremaining.
Normally, this would cause the referee to stop the clock untilthe free kick was taken, negating the other team’s attempt torun out the clock. However, Wednesday’s referee didn’tstop the clock until it had run down to under one second, denyingthe Mustangs (11-3-3, 4-1-1 WAC) one last opportunity to win thegame.
O’Rear eventually took the free kick, but the clock ranout before the ball reached the goalkeeper, leaving SMU to settlefor a 2-2 (2OT) draw.
“It’s just something that happens,” Heinemannsaid. “But things like that go on once in a while. We wereplaying a good team that plays a nice style, and we’re takingsome good things from this game.”
For the Longhorns, Wednesday night was their fifth straightovertime game and gives them a six-game unbeaten streak. It was theMustangs’ second straight overtime contest after they lost tothe UTEP Miners 3-2 last Friday.
Sophomore Adria Campbell opened the scoring just nine minutesinto the first half, tapping a perfect Heinemann cross to the farside of the goal. Texas answered less than three minutes later whenCarrie Schmidt headed in a corner kick.
It was much the same story in the second half when Mustangsdefender Ashley Watson scored off a corner kick. It wasWatson’s second goal in three games, and second of hercollege career.
A perfect free kick to the upper left corner from about 25-yardsby Texas senior Nicole Breger tied the score at two midway throughthe half.
But the most memorable part of this game was its physicality, asboth teams came in hard for tackles and 50-50 balls. Freshmancenter back Greta Carter had the scariest collision, splitting herlip open in a collision with a Longhorn midfielder in the firsthalf.
Carter, bleeding badly from her lip, was forced to the lockerroom, but came back for the second half.
“I’m still not quite sure what happened,”Carter said after the game, her lower lip swollen. “I think Iran into her head or maybe her shoulder and blood just startedpouring out. But I’m okay now. They put a lot of ice on it,so it’s at least stopped bleeding.”
Two yellow cards were handed out, both going to Longhorns fortactical fouls.
Even though Texas dominated the shots 23-9, both teams wereevenly matched throughout the game. The Mustangs managed to containLonghorn senior Kelly Wilson, who has 11 goals on the seasonincluding four game winners.
“They are a very good team that’s just hitting theirstride,” Mustang coach John Cossaboon said.”They’re very strong on set plays and one of thequickest counter-attack teams in the country. We caught them attheir strongest. This game sets us up to finish out strong and gointo the tournament as prepared as we can be. We’ve still gota whole lot more to do this season.”
The Mustangs wrap up the regular season this weekend when theyhost Nevada on Friday night at 7 p.m. and Boise State at 1 p.m. atWestcott field. Should they win both games, they will clench theWAC regular season title. They following week, they travel toHawaii for the WAC Championships.
