A 1-3-1 start to the season for Texas soccer has introduced more questions than answers for this new-look roster. The Longhorns needed to get the train churning back in the right direction and thanks to two of their star freshmen, they did just that.
The game started with a quick scare from Charleston, striking the post in the third minute, perhaps the wake-up call Texas needed. Sophomore forward Amalia Villarreal froze the Charleston defense with a cross into the box a few minutes later. Freshman forward Ava McDonald flew into the box to guide the ball into the back of the net for her first goal of the day.
Seemingly freed up, the Longhorns were all over the Cougars, pressing, passing around them and creating chances. However, in a sight all too familiar for Texas this season, the ball would not find the back of the net.
The misses, highlighted by a trio of chances from McDonald, gave Charleston some momentum. The Cougars ended the half by putting a lot of pressure on the Longhorns’ backline. Going into the break, it was a pretty even contest with Texas only having one more shot than Charleston.
“It’s a credit to my teammates there … to pick me back up and tell me, ‘Hey next one, next one,’ so it’s really a credit to them today,” McDonald said.
Maybe that encouragement was all the Longhorns needed because in the second half, they found their finishing touch.
McDonald and her fellow true freshman, Audrey Bryant, put their stamp on the game, both scoring early to effectively put the game to bed.
Bryant’s goal required a bit of fortune as a bouncing ball fell kindly to her in the six-yard box after a corner kick. McDonald’s second goal, however, was a moment of individual brilliance, using her pace and power to dribble past the Charleston defense and calmly slot one into the bottom corner just moments after going down with a cramp.
After the game, McDonald said she was just trying to “push through”, but she did more than that.
“Definitely overwhelmed with a lot of emotions,” McDonald said. “It’s been a struggle these last two games, just not being able to finish, but today felt really good.”
The rest of the final frame wasn’t glamorous, but it didn’t have to be. The Longhorns only had four shots in the second half, but they were clinical when they needed to be, converting two of those chances.
Taking a three-goal lead early in the second half allowed Texas to play more conservatively and see the game out, a liberty it hasn’t had all season.
“That’s what you want to do, right?” head coach Ange Kelly said. “That third goal was really important to get that cushion there, and we saw it out.”
A consolation goal from Charleston’s Emma Wennar put the Cougars on the board, ending the Longhorns’ bid for their first clean sheet of the season, but the result was never in doubt as Texas topped Charleston 3-1.
“We’re constantly growing and learning, and this young squad is going to be okay,” Kelly said.
Only time will tell if this performance is the start of something special for the Longhorns, but if it is, McDonald and her freshman teammates will play a huge part in it.
Texas returns to action on Thursday when it faces off against an old Big 12 Conference foe, Baylor, in Waco, Texas.