Brook, Texas Soccer Focus on Roadtrip to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Texas Women’s soccer will travel to face the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Islanders on Fri. Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. at Dr. Jack Dugan Family Soccer & Track Stadium.
The match serves as the first regular season contest for the teams who have met twice before in exhibition matches (fall 2013, and spring 2014), with the Longhorns winning each of those exhibitions. A&M-Corpus Christi enters Friday's contest with a 1-1-1 record on the season, recording a tie against Houston and a win over Texas Southern before falling last week to Texas State on the road.
The Longhorns have shown their strengths as they have put together two wins, no losses and two ties to start the season.
In it's last contest Texas dominated Nevada on Sept. 1, for a 5-1 win. Head Coach Angela Kelly believes in continued improvement on the team’s skills.
“Were always in the pursuit of a perfect game," Kelly said. "We want our efficiency to be high, our touches to be minimal, we want the ball to be quick and let the ball do the work. We want the movement to be constant. That’s where their focus needs to be."
This week Texas picked up three votes in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). The Longhorns currently rank No. 34 in the BennettRank.com ratings.
Freshman forward, Olivia Brook has proven her potential so far this season by scoring a team- leading three goals through her first four matches of her career.
“Were going to go for a win," Brook said going into Friday's game. "My goal is to work on my dynamic runs and be in the best position possible to get the ball in the back of the net."
Prior to the game the team likes to listen to music in the locker room or on the bus to get in the right mindset. Brook credits teammate, senior defender Whitney Jaynes for the pre-game music.
“I always have my Beats Pill [portable blue-tooth speaker]," Jayne said. "It’s my job before on the bus to get everyone going.”
“As long as the music is loud and making me get it the zone I’m ready,” Brook said of pre-game traditions. The Houston native also emphasized the importance of prayer before each game for herself.
As Texas takes a game-by-game approach to the falls slate the team views Friday's game as the most important match of the season.
“We want to keep more possession of the ball," Jaynes said. "It’s a mentality thing. As long as were all focus and on the same page, we’ll be able to keep the fast play."
Friday’s game will be streamed live at Golslanders.com for a one-time charge of $5.95.
Texas will return home to play Montana on Sun. Sept. 7 at 7:30 at the Mike A. Myers Stadium. The game will be televised on The Longhorn Network.
