The No. 20 Texas Longhorns did not disappoint at Mike A. Myers Stadium on Friday night in their Red River Showdown against Oklahoma.
With Bevo and 2,085 Longhorn fans in attendance, the largest home crowd of the season, forward Alexa Adams scored the game winning goal with one minute left in regulation to lift the Longhorns over the Sooners, 3-2.
“This is a grind. We were so excited to be home tonight,” said head coach Angela Kelly, whose squad is undefeated at home this season. “Thank you so much to the fans. It was electric. It was a beautiful night here in Austin. It’s going to be a happy Saturday tomorrow, and we’re really excited about it.”
Following Oklahoma’s 2-2 equalizer at the 83:19 minute mark, it looked as though Texas was headed into their fourth overtime game of the season, but Adams had something else in mind.
“Once they scored to tie it, I literally was like, ‘We’re not going into another overtime,’” Adams said. “We have a thing with overtime, and I did not want to do it anymore so I was just doing anything I could possible to finish any opportunity.”
In their sixth consecutive game without Julia Grosso and Emma Regan, the Longhorns, who struggled to win the possession during their four-game road trip, had no trouble doing so at home against Oklahoma.
Texas outshot the Sooners, 22-8, including 11-2 in shots on goal.
Midfielders Haley Berg and Katie Glenn caused the Sooners problems all night. After Oklahoma quickly grabbed the 1-0 lead, Berg provided Glenn with a beautiful low cross from the right wing. Glenn gathered the pass, took one dribble and then drove the ball into the back of the net for the equalizer at the 27 minute mark.
The Sooners’ two goals both came from set pieces, one off a free kick and the other off a corner. Other than those two plays, it was all Texas.
The backline, led by goalkeeper Nicole Curry, played almost flawlessly, disrupting Oklahoma from sustaining a consistent offensive rhythm. Defender Atu Mshana credits their three years of playing together prior to Regan’s arrival at Texas for their great chemistry.
“We’ve definitely created a bond over the years, and that really helps me push forward with my teammates, cause we’re playing for each other and not just ourselves,” Mshana said. “The fact that we have that bond makes the game easier.”
The Longhorns responded to a tough road trip with a big victory over Oklahoma in the soccer rendition of the Red River Showdown. Texas will look to remain undefeated at home on Friday, Oct. 19, in a matchup against Kansas at Mike A. Myers Stadium.