RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's soccer team dropped its season opener Thursday, 1-0, to the Tarleton State (TSU) Texans at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
The Texans (1-0) leaned on their defense and did just enough offensively to hold a 1-0 lead after the opening half. Tarleton State put the only two shots on goal of the first half and scored in the 12
th minute with the goal going to
Stevie Reynolds.
UTRGV created some offensive rhythm midway through the first half. Sophomore midfielders
Ruby Ortiz and
Allie Cifuentes along with sophomore forward
Isabella Burtini got the Vaqueros moving up the pitch, and Burtini took two shots as she navigated through the tight Texans defense.
Tarleton State closed the half strong and put a shot on goal with 27 seconds remaining, but junior goalkeeper
Emilia Compian came up with the save to keep things close at the break.
Cifuentes and senior defender
Libbie Mayfield led a good defensive effort from the Vaqueros to prevent the Texans from finding much momentum in the second half. Ortiz and Burtini continued to spark UTRGV's offense and got the Vaqueros applying pressure in their attacking third in the final 20 minutes.
Ortiz showcased her footwork and ball control against tight defense and was aggressive leading the Vaqueros charge. The pace of play picked up late as UTRGV tried to rally and the Texans fought to maintain their slim lead.
In the 79
th minute, junior midfielder
Linnea Eld notched UTRGV's first shot on goal, but Tarleton State keeper
Emma Barnes came up with the save. Burtini got a pair of good looks in the back end of the second half, including her fourth shot in the 81
st minute which missed just a hair wide right.
Cifuentes, Ortiz and Co. picked up the pressure with the clock winding down. UTRGV got a corner kick with less than one minute remaining but the Texans defense held strong to secure the shutout.
Compian finished the match with two saves. Both teams took seven shots, but the Texans held the edge in shots on goal, 3-1.
The Vaqueros (0-1) will be back at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex on Sunday at 11 a.m. against Rice.
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