Freshman scores in debut to lift soccer over Oklahoma

September 25, 2020September 26, 2020ANGELA KELLY, Haley Berg, Presley Echols, Texas Soccer

Playing in her college debut, freshman forward scored the only goal the Texas Longhorns would need in UT's 1-0 win over Oklahoma (photo by Jose Mendez / *Horns Illustrated*).

AUSTIN, Texas — Freshman forward Presley Echols scored her first goal in her first appearance as a collegiate player, and in the process lifted the Texas soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Oklahoma at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

Echols’ goal was the first tally of the season for the Longhorns (1-2-0), who started the season on the short end of back-to-back shutouts. Her goal was set up by senior forward Haley Berg, whose first assist of the season was the 17^th of her career, which moved her into a tie with Carol Finch (1995-97) for 10^th place in the history of the program.

The game was as close statistically as it was on the scoreboard. UT outshot OU, 11-10, and edged the Sooners in shots on goal, 4-3. Berg led the Longhorns with five shots. Echols was the only other UT player to register more than a single shot; she had two.

Echols is the first Texas player to score in her college debut since Sydney Nobles got on the scoreboard in the Longhorns’ 2019 season opener against Gonzaga.

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Echols’ goal would not have held up had Texas goalkeeper Savannah Madden and the UT defense pitched a shutout against the Oklahoma offense. The clean sheet was the second in Madden’s career.

The victory gave the Longhorns a 16-9-2 all-time edge against OU, including a 9-2-1 mark at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

The Longhorns will try to even their season record next Friday, Oct. 2, when they travel for a road game at West Virginia, a match that will be carried on ESPN+.