Hart scores twice to lift soccer past Texas Tech for first Big 12 victory

By Steve Lansdale

AUSTIN, Texas — Senior forward Jasmine Hart scored in each half Friday, lifting the Texas soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Texas Tech at Mike A. Myers Stadium. The victory — the Longhorns’ first this season against a team from the Big 12 — improved UT’s record to 8-7-1 overall and 1-4-1 in matches against Big 12 opponents.

Hart’s goals, which she scored in the 24^th and 56^th minutes, doubled her season total to four. After the game, she said she could not specifically explain her goals. Instead, she said, she focused on [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]the fact that her college career is winding down, and used that as inspiration to increase her intensity.

“It was a huge game,” Hart said. “Those two goals… I honestly don’t know where they came from. On my second goal, the ball came into the box, I was there, and I was ready to finish into the back of the net. I knew I only had two games left on our home field, so I had to bring everything I had and make sacrifices. I found the back of the net, and I’m very excited about that.”

Senior Paige Brown turned away all six Texas Tech shots on goal to record her fourth shutout of the season. UT outshot the Red Raiders, 25-19, including an 11-6 margin in shots on goal.

Texas head coach Angela Kelly said after the match that the victory was a result of the Longhorns’ ability to stick to the game plan, and that she saw evidence of why she is so optimistic about her team’s future — especially on the offensive end.

“I thought we were well-organized,” Kelly said. “Texas Tech is a quality team with a great coach, and they were very well-organized. We knew we had to be well-organized, and I’m really proud of the squad because we followed the game plan to a T. I love the fact that Cyera Hintzen got so involved in the match; she found space for herself where there was no space. I’ve known all along and have been excited for her to be here, but I think she has now shown everybody (what) prolific goal scorer and the creative personality she can be. We’re excited for another three years of that.”

Knocking off the Red Raiders was much-needed, but the Longhorns will face a different level of a challenge Sunday when they host No. 1-ranked West Virginia in their final home game of the season. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on FSN and Fox Sports Southwest.

“I think we need to come out with the same, if not more, intensity (as) we did against Texas Tech,” Hintzen said. “We all know we needed to get this win and that will help us move forward. We just need to take it and go out and fight as hard as we can.”
/s2If] [s2If !current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] [article-offer] [/s2If]