Soccer blanks Toledo 3-0

by Sarah Fetters

August 26, 2012

Austin, Texas - After suffering back-to-back one-goal losses, The University of Texas Soccer team rebounded Sunday against Toledo by earning a 3-0 victory. Senior Kristin Cummins tallied the game-winner at the 39:09 mark off an assist from freshman Sydney Shutter. In the second half, freshman Lindsey Meyer and sophomore Allison Smith added the insurance with their first goals of the season.

The win against the defending Mid-American Conference Tournament champion Rockets evened the Longhorns' record at 2-2-0. The victory also ends a run of six-straight one-goal decisions by Texas. With the loss, the Rockets dropped to 1-3-0 on the season.

Toledo did not attempt a shot in the first half and finished the contest with only four. Texas sophomore goalkeeper Ava Vogel recorded her second win of the campaign and her first career shutout. She tied her personal best with two saves in the effort.

The Longhorns recorded the first threat of the match nearly nine minutes in as they earned consecutive corner kicks, but did not register any shots. At the 28:18 mark, Cummins took the first shot, but the attempt went wide left. The opportunity opened up the Longhorns' offense as they had three more shots and two more corner kicks in the next five minutes. Sophomore midfielder Sharis Lachappelle and junior defender Brenda Saucedo each had their chances blocked and freshman midfielder Chantale Campbell had her shot sail high over the goal.

With less than eight minutes remaining in the half, freshman Kelsey Shimmick forced Rocket goalkeeper Kelsey Borowitz to make the save, but Borowitz could not stop Cummins' shot from outside the 18-yard box at 39:09 as it found the back corner of the goal. It was Cummins' third score of the season.

The Longhorns broke the match open in the second half with goals from Meyer and Smith. At 68:31, Smith took a corner kick and Meyer headed it into the back of the net. It was the first goal of Meyer's career and the first off a corner kick for the team this season.

Less than three minutes later, Smith registered the final goal of the contest with a left-footed shot past Rocket goalkeeper Sam Tiongson. Senior Hannah Higgins was credited with the assist on the play, her second of the year and 11th of her career. She is just two helpers shy of entering the program's top-10 list. At 76:25, freshman defender Emilie Campbell nearly made it a 4-0 advantage with a point-blank shot on goal, but Tiongson came up with the save.

Toledo had one final shot, at 84:26 by Geri Siudzinski, but the attempt sailed wide left, allowing Vogel to preserve the shutout.