Soccer drops 1-0 decision at Arkansas

by Sarah Fetters
August 20, 2012
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - A goal by Arkansas' Jeriann Okoro at 71:58 lifted the Razorbacks to a 1-0 victory over Texas on Sunday afternoon. The Longhorns held a 19-9 advantage in shots and a 14-2 edge in corner kicks, but could not score on Arkansas goalkeeper Kelly Roliard, who finished the match with six saves. Texas opened the game with pressure in the Razorback zone, resulting in three corner kicks within the first 11 minutes of action. Neither team registered a shot until the 22nd minute, when sophomore forward Allison Smith fired a pair. Roliard fell to the ground attempting to stop the first offering. On the rebound, Smith took another shot and a pair of Razorbacks standing in the right corner of the net turned the ball aside. Senior forward Kristin Cummins had one final look on goal during the flurry, but her shot was blocked. It was Texas sophomore midfielder Sharis Lachappelle who recorded the first shot on goal of the contest, forcing Roliard to make a save at 24:40. Lachappelle fired from around 20-yards away, but Roliard came up with the stop. Arkansas responded with pressure of its own during the 32nd minute. Sophomore goalkeeper Ava Vogel registered her first save of the afternoon, knocking aside a shot from around 10-yards away by 2011 All-Southeastern Conference Freshman Team selection Okoro. The Razorbacks' Sam Wolf followed on the rebound, but the attempt sailed over the goal. With five minutes remaining in the opening half, the Razorbacks had another opportunity as a corner kick resulted in a shot by Margaret Power, but the attempt was blocked by a Longhorn wall and cleared. After the scoreless first 45 minutes, Lachappelle nearly broke the tie at 48:53 as she headed a ball off the far right post after a Longhorn corner kick. Lachappelle had another strike at 54:18, but Roliard made the save. UT knocked on the door again with 25 minutes remaining in the match as senior forward Hannah Higgins forced Roliard into a save. At 68:56, Smith let loose an attempt from around 15-yards away and Roliard turned it aside with a diving stop. Okoro broke the scoreless tie in the 72nd minute as she snuck past the Longhorns' defense. Her first shot was stopped by Vogel, but the rebound went back on Okoro's feet and she sent it into the empty net at 71:58 as Vogel was on the ground. The Longhorns took four shots in the final 14 minutes after the Razorback goal, but two went high, one was blocked and the final of the match was wide right.
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