Tar Heels & Longhorns Battle To 1-1 Tie

Wednesday, August 22

Chapel Hill, N.C. (Finley South)

5 p.m.

North Carolina

2-0-1

Texas

1-0-1

OT 3

OT 4

Texas

North Carolina

Rachael Dorwart congratulates Taylor Otto on her game-tying goal.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

August 22, 2018 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (pdf)Play By Play (pdf)Dorrance Post Game (mp3)Watch Otto's Game-Tying Goal Photo Gallery

Otto tallies in 53rd minute for tying goal

By: Dave Lohse

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Fourth-ranked North Carolina and 21^st-ranked Texas battled to a 1-1 tie in women's soccer action Wednesday afternoon at Finley Fields South before a crowd of 519 fans.

Texas now stands 1-0-1 on the season while Carolina is now 2-0-1. The Longhorns will play again on Friday against UCF at Finley Fields South at 5 p.m. Next up for Carolina is UCF on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Finley Fields South.

Texas would score just 1:10 into the match Wednesday and that would be enough to earn a tie for the Longhorns who are coached by Angela Kelly, UNC Class of 1995. The Tar Heels turned the ball over deep in the defensive end with Cyera Hintzen intercepting a pass just outside the 18-yard box. She took a couple of dribbles and struck from the top of the box past UNC goalkeeper Samantha Leshnak, who had no chance to recover after the ball was inadvertently served directly into the path of Hintzen.

Despite outshooting the Longhorns 8-3 in the first half, UNC was unable to get an equalizer before halftime. Dorian Bailey's penalty kick went off the left post and her rebound shot was then smothered by Texas goalkeeper Nicole Curry.

UNC outshot the Longhorns 9-2 in the second half and did get a tying goal at 52:16 when Taylor Otto notched her first goal of the season off a nifty passing combination. Brianna Pinto send a pass to Rachael Dorwart who pushed the ball on to Otto, who finished from about 10 yards out in the left side of the box.

Despite some good opportunities, the Tar Heels were unable to put the Longhorns away in regulation time. Given the reprieve, Texas created opportunities in the overtime periods, outshooting UNC 4-3 in the two 10-minute extra periods combined. One of the best chances in second overtime came off the foot of Hintzen who sent a free kick from 19 yards out in the center of the pitch over the bar.

Altogether, UNC outshot the Longhorns 20-9 in the game but for the first time this season Carolina struggled to get its shots on goal. UNC finished with just six of 20 shots on goal and Texas had five shots on frame. UNC finished with a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Nicole Curry played all 110 minutes in goal for Texas and made four saves. Leshnak played the first half for Carolina in goal before freshman Claudia Dickey came on to play the second half and two overtime periods. Dickey finished with four saves, a career high.

After playing three games in just seven days, UNC will be able to rest for three days before taking the UCF Knights on Sunday. The Knights are coached by UNC alumna Tiffany Roberts, UNC Class of 1999. The Tar Heels will be looking to avenge a 2-1 double overtime loss to the Knights last year in Orlando.