Villarreal’s Record-Breaking Penalty Shot Stuns No. 13 Vanderbilt

Amalia Villarreal delivered a moment of unforgettable history for the Texas Longhorns on Friday night, burying a penalty kick with just two seconds left on the clock to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory over the 13th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores. The exhilarating win at home marked the Longhorns’ first SEC victory of the season and only their third overall, providing a crucial momentum boost against a formidable top-tier opponent that had previously conceded just four goals all season.

The decisive 89th-minute goal capped off a frantic, controversial final minute of play. With the score tied 1-1, chaos erupted as Vanderbilt goalkeeper Sara Wojdelko was issued a straight red card for charging out of the box and fouling Texas forward Ava McDonald, denying a dangerous, clear-cut scoring opportunity. The penalty, awarded after a video review, also confirmed an earlier infraction where Melania Fullerton was judged to have made contact with Sadie Hoch’s eye near the net.

Stepping up to the spot in a moment of immense pressure, Villarreal calmly slotted the ball home with a mere two seconds remaining in regulation. The dramatic finish set a new Longhorn program record for the latest regulation game-winning goal, eclipsing the previous mark by 15 seconds.

Villarreal, who finished the night with a crucial brace, had previously opened the scoring in the 67th minute, receiving a clever no-look pass from McDonald and finishing with a clinical one-touch strike from 15 yards out. Vanderbilt answered 12 minutes later, leveling the score when Mary Beth McLaughlin set up Olivia Stafford for her first career SEC goal. Despite the equalizer, the Longhorns held firm defensively, with goalie Kendell Williams posting four saves in her first career win.