Texas Women’s Soccer Falls to Northwestern State in Season Opener

The reigning SEC champions couldn’t hold on to their first-half lead, as the Texas Longhorns women’s soccer team fell to the Northwestern State Demons, 3-2, in their NCAA season opener on Thursday. The loss came despite the Longhorns dominating the stat sheet, outshooting the Demons 25-7.

Northwestern State’s Emily Senatore opened the scoring just five minutes into the match with an unassisted goal. But the Longhorns quickly responded, as junior Olivia Ahern found freshman Ava McDonald in the 25th minute. McDonald launched a shot into the bottom right corner to tie the match at 1-1. The goal was McDonald first in her college career.  The Longhorns took the lead less than eight minutes later when reigning SEC Freshman of the Year Amalia Villarreal weaved through the defense and slotted a shot from a narrow angle to the far post.

Despite Texas’s strong first half, the Demons found new life after the break. Freshman Hosane Soukou leveled the contest in the 61st minute with her first career goal, taking a pass from junior Riley Stern and placing a shot into the top left corner.

The comeback was completed in the 72nd minute when Senatore ripped a shot through the Texas defense for her second goal of the night, securing her fourth career brace.

While the Longhorns applied constant pressure, goalkeeper Kennedy Rist was the star of the night for Northwestern State. The redshirt junior keeper finished with a career-high 13 saves to seal the upset victory.

The greatest loss in the match may not have been the final score, but freshman striker McDonald.  McDonald’s force on the pitch was undeniable.  It was noteworthy when she took a knee midway through the first half, holding her ankle.  And the stadium went silent when she left the match early in the second half, apparently due to leg cramps.  She reentered late in the match, only to be carried off with a possible knee injury.