 "Photo: Ryan Killian")
After Niki Arlitt's goal in minute 15 put Texas ahead of Louisiana State University early Tuesday night, nobody in Mike Myers stadium could have thought they'd be seeing two periods of overtime soccer.
"I felt that when we went 1-0 we were at a point in the game where we could break the game open," Texas head coach Chris Petrucelli said. "But we made some mistakes defensively."
LSU (5-0-1) overcame the early goal to take No. 7 Texas (4-1-1) the full 110 minutes for a 2-2 draw. Five minutes after Arlitt put the Longhorns up, LSU sophomore forward Rachel Yepez netted the equalizer on a left foot volley shot to put her season total at seven.
With the score knotted at one at the half, senior Kelsey Carpenter put Texas back on top after fighting off a LSU defender in the box. The Tigers came back quickly and scored another equalizer less than three minutes off of a corner kick that was mishandled by Texas goalkeeper Dianna Pfenniger. The ball slipped through Pfenniger's hands and fell to her feet, causing a free-for-all in the box that trickled its way into the net.
"The second goal especially demoralized us," Petrucelli said. "It's rare we give up a lead in the second half."
LSU survived being out shot 32-13 thanks largely to a 14-save performance from senior goalkeeper Valerie Vogler that included three diving saves that took away sure goals for the Longhorns.
"That's the first time all year Val's really been tested," LSU head coach Brian Lee said. "She really stepped up big and made a couple [of] big time saves."
Texas may have avoided facing Vogler's six overtime saves if a last second call would have gone their way.
With less than five seconds remaining in regulation, an early cross from midfield nearly found senior Kelsey Carpenter in the box as she tried to outrun a Tiger defender to the loose ball. She received a questionable collision instead that referee Tim Debysingh refused to label as a penalty.
"[The ref] said they both fell," Petrucelli said, despite being visibly upset at the time. "If he felt they both fell, I'm sure that's what happened."
Opportunities presented themselves for the Longhorns throughout overtime with Carpenter jumping out of the gate with a noticeable amount of energy, outshooting the Tigers 7-0 in overtime, including six that were on target.
"The good news is we created goal chances," Petrucelli said, "The bad news is we didn't get any goals."
After the game, Carpenter was quick to acknowledge that to leave with a draw despite having so many chances is disappointing for the team.
"When you got 30 shots, you need to get more than one goal," Carpenter said. "It's just ridiculous honesty. ... It's just really frustrating when you get the ball served in there and you can't finish."
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