RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's soccer team fought to a 1-1 draw with the Concordia Tornadoes Sunday at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex on senior day.
UTRGV (1-3-1) got its lone goal from senior midfielder
Ana Recarte-Pacheco and saw freshman goalkeeper
Emilia Compian make one save. Concordia's (0-0-1) goal came from
Kallie Krenz, and Tornadoes keeper
Lora Tresco made one save.
The Vaqueros controlled most of the opening half, applying consistent pressure in their offensive third and outshooting Concordia 5-3 in the first 45 minutes. UTRGV also earned five corners to Concordia's one in the frame.
UTRGV quickly turned that energetic start into a 1-0 lead as Recarte-Pacheco sent a header into the goal off a great assist from freshman defender
Rosie Train. Recarte-Pacheco and junior defender
Libby Beilfuss were the sparkplugs for UTRGV in the first half, keeping the ball moving and preventing Concordia from getting many looks. Beilfuss and junior defender
Nadia Colon broke up several long passes as the Tornadoes tried to stretch the pitch, and Compian made a save in the second minute.
Concordia upped its tempo in the final 15 minutes of the half, finding a new level with Krenz coming off the bench with fresh legs. The Tornadoes created a whirlpool inside the box with 13 minutes on the clock, sending the ball bouncing off players from both teams as they tried to find the equalizer, but UTRGV's defense held.
In the 36
th minute, Krenz aggressively pushed her team on the attack and tied the match with a good shot sent by the diving keeper.
The start of the second half was a bit more even than the start of the first, but the Vaqueros remained the aggressor. Redshirt sophomore midfielder/forward
Savannah Frisby and freshman midfielder
Olivia Smith were active to get the Vaqueros offense moving.
In the 52
nd minute, freshman midfielder
Linnea Eld took a great shot from afar, but it hit the top woodwork and dropped straight down, and though it looked like a close play to the rowdy crowd, it was ruled a no goal. Just as the attempt fired up the fans, the Vaqueros also showed an uptick in intensity and kept the pressure on the Tornadoes. Frisby showcased some swift footwork to gather the ball through traffic and send a shot up but didn't connect.
After the hydration break, UTRGV continued to control the pace and possession while the match got physical with both teams playing hard for the go-ahead goal. Junior midfielder
Molly Reynosa and graduate student forward
Jeweleen Reuille were among the numerous Vaqueros showing great effort in the Texas heat.
UTRGV kept the ball inside its offensive third for the final five minutes, fighting to the final whistle. A late yellow card against Concordia gave the Vaqueros a fighting chance, but the Tornadoes used an admirable defensive effort to hold the draw.
The Vaqueros outshot the Tornadoes 14-4 and had 10 corners to Concordia's one. UTRGV's next match is Friday at Prairie View A&M.
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