Soccer preview: N.C. State
Aug. 17, 2010
MATCH #1: Texas (0-0-0) at N.C. State (0-0-0)
Opening on the Road ... When the Longhorns head to North Carolina this weekend to face N.C. State, it will be just the fifth time in program history, and third under head coach Chris Petrucelli, that the Horns will open the regular season on the road. Texas has a 1-1 record in road openers under Petrucelli and are 1-3 all time.
Big 12 Preseason Honors...UT was picked to finish fifth in the 2010 Big 12 Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll while senior defender Erica Campanelli earned Preseason All-Conference honors for the second-straight year. Texas A&M was picked to win the title followed by Nebraska and Missouri.
Exhibition vs. LSU recap...Texas posted a 2-1 victory over LSU in a preseason scrimmage, Saturday, Aug. 14 at Myers Stadium. Freshman Gabby Zarnegar got the Horns on the board first with her goal assisted by Kylie Doniak in the fifth minute. The Tigers evened up the score in the 71st minute but UT responded just a minute and a half later off of a goal from Lucy Keith for the gamewinner.
Returning for the Horns...Texas returns 13 players, including eight starters, from last year's squad that advanced to the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship. The Horns bring back 79 percent of their starting positions (182 out of a possible 231) and 70 percent of their scoring (49 out of a possible 71 points). The returning 13 have played in a total of 397 games, averaging out to 30.5 games per person. Four of the returners have been part of a Big 12 Championship squad while eight have NCAA Championship experience.
Mertz familiar with Raleigh ... Not only will assistant coach Kat Mertz be coaching in her first official game as a Longhorn at N.C. State this Friday, she will be doing it on the field where she played out her collegiate career. Mertz was a four-year starter in goal for the Wolfpack from 1994-97 and still holds the ACC career record for saves (436 saves in 88 matches).
A Brazilian Fortune... Redshirt freshman Leah Fortune returns to Austin with even more international experience than before as she recently wrapped up the 2010 FIFA U-20 World Cup with Brazil. Fortune, who has been part of Brazil's U-20 team since she was 17, was also a late arrival to the Horns preseason camp as she was with the full Women's National Team as part of the squad's 2011 World Cup training. Fortune was granted a medical redshirt following the 2009 campaign due to a season-ending ankle injury, three matches into the year.
Gaul named to MAC Hermann Watch List ... Sophomore keeper Alexa Gaul is one of 45 players nationally to be named to the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Watch List. The award is the highest individual award in collegiate soccer. Gaul is the first Horn to be named to the watch list since 2008. The list will be narrowed down to 15 during the season before the three finalists are selected in November.
Internationally Qualified ... Texas' 2010 roster boasts a wealth of national and international playing experience. From the U.S. to Denmark to Brazil, Texas' athletes have competed against the world's best at their level. Here's a look at current Horns who have recently played with their national teams:
Harris Tops Texas ... Freshman Lexi Harris comes to the Longhorns squad as the top-ranked recruit in the state of Texas for the 2010 class (TopDrawerSoccer.com). The midfielder from Plano was also ranked as the 7th best player nationally by the online publication. Along with playing in the U.S. National Team program, Harris led her club squad (Dallas Texans `92) to the 2008 USYS U-17 National Championship and helped Plano West win the Texas 5A State Championship in 2007.
Track/Soccer Combo ... Junior Stacey-Ann Smith, a world-class 400m runner for Texas's Women's Track and Field squad has joined the soccer roster for the 2010 season, just weeks after winning a gold medal as part of the USA's 4x400m relay at the IAAF World Junior Championships in late July. Smith, who will still run track in the fall, played competitive soccer during high school before switching strictly to track and field. |
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