No. 19 Texas Holds off Gonzaga Rally in Season-Opener

Thursday, August 22

Austin, TX

5 p.m.

Gonzaga University

0-1-0

No. 19 Texas

1-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Gonzaga	1	2	3
Texas	3	1	4

Photo by: Brendan Maloney

No. 19 Texas Holds off Gonzaga Rally in Season-Opener

8/22/2019 7:49:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

Gonzaga falls in first-ever meeting between programs

AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 19 Texas women's soccer team made a key save in the final seconds to stop upset-minded Gonzaga, 4-3, Thursday.

After scoring the first goal, the Bulldogs fell behind 3-1 at halftime, only to tie the match at three in the 67th minute. But, Texas (1-0-0) would find the game-winner in the 81^st minute in a thrilling first-ever meeting between the programs. The Longhorns' Savannah Madden stopped a GU penalty kick with five seconds left in regulation.

The Longhorns got a pair of goals and an assist from Julia Grosso, and three assists and a goal from Cyera Hintzen. Zags' freshmen Erin Healy and Lauren Elwer both scored their first collegiate goals.

Gonzaga outshot the host Longhorns 23-15. The Zags put 11 shots on goal, while UT had seven. GU had a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks.

Healy's first collegiate goal was the first of the season for Gonzaga (0-1-0). The freshman found the back of the net in the ninth minute. She kicked in a rebound off of her own shot that was blocked, sliding it on the ground to the far post.

Following a great save by Isabel Jones, Sydney Nobles scored the equalizer in the 33^rd minute for Texas. The freshman's goal was struck from the top of the 18 into the left side netting. Hintzen was credited with the assist.

Six minutes later, Grosso scored the first of her two goals. She converted on a GU turnover just outside the 18, kicking a ball low to the far post. Hintzen and Haley Berg were given assists. The trio of Grosso, Hintzen and Berg connected again in similar fashion with less than a minute remaining until halftime.

Gonzaga held a slim 10-9 advantage in shots in the first half after a solid start. Both teams placed five shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes. Texas possessed the ball for 51 percent of the time in first half.

In the 59^th minute, Elwer headed in a corner kick from India Jencks. Her first collegiate goal came off of Jencks' sixth career assist. Jencks' 36 career points now ranks seventh in program history. A minute later, the Bulldogs' Madeline Gotta nearly scored off of an impressive shot that rattled the crossbar.

Gabriela Maas tied the match with a beautifully bent ball off of a free kick. She curled a shot over the Texas keeper to the far post in the 67^th minute.

Hintzen's game-winner came with nine minutes left in regulation. After receiving a pass from Grosso, she made a quick turn and struck a shot to the far post from 10 yards out.

Madden finished with eight saves in the Longhorn net, while Jones and Lyza Bosselmann combined for three saves.

Gonzaga remains in the Lonestar state for a matchup with Sam Houston State (0-1-0). The programs meet for the first-time ever in Huntsville, Texas, Sunday. The Bearkats dropped their season-opener Thursday, 3-0, at home to Houston. Sunday's start time is scheduled for 11 a.m. Pacific Time. Live video and stats will be available on GoZags.com.