Box Score ABILENE, TX (11.01.12) - A pair of second-half goals propelled the UT Dallas women's soccer team to the semifinals of the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament for the 10th straight season after a 2-0 win over Concordia in Thursday's quarterfinal match.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
Sophomore
Jasmine Chipps scored the game-winner for the Comets to break open a scoreless match in the 66th minute, redirecting a perfect header pass from
Krysta Howard off a
Taylor Maeker corner kick into the net. With less than three minutes remaining in the game, senior
Emily Hokanson launched a rocket from just outside the box that gave UTD the insurance goal it needed to secure the win.
The Comets (now 11-4-2) will face tournament host and No. 2-ranked Hardin-Simmons at 11 a.m. Friday.
The first goal was a relief for the Comets, who dominated possession throughout and outshot the Tornados, 23-8, for the match. The Comets had nine other corner kick opportunities they were unable to finish off before scoring, UTD finished with a 12-1 advantage.
UTD was particularly frustrated after a scoreless first half. With both teams starting slowly,
Eboni Udenze didn't have the first shot for either team until 24 minutes in.
Jamie Rheman also misfired on a strong scoring opportunity before the half, sending the ball just over crossbar.
"I felt like we played well in the first half, but we had to do more," said UTD coach John Antonisse. "I asked them to step up the pace in the second half. We did that and finally got the results."
The Comets did take charge in the final 45 minutes, launching 17 shots and forcing six second-half saves off relief keeper Kia Hartom, who entered the game 23 minutes in and took the loss.
UTD started the second half with energy, putting together a couple of rushes up the middle, then got four straight corner kickes in a 10-minute span. After two Howard headers went high and
Carli Beckett and Rheman had long shots that were off-target, the Comets finally got on the board. Maeker lofted a soft arching corner to the back post of the goal, Howard sent it back across and Chipps finished it off.
With the 1-0 lead, UTD's second half keeper
Macaire Ament survived a couple of scares when CTX had forwards Amanda Tarpley and Jordan James had one-on-one opportunities, but misfired high on shots.
Hokanson's goal with three minutes left was unassisted.
Taylor Belcher had a free kick from the right side that the Tornado defense was able to clear, but Hokanson picked up the loose ball out in front of the box and launched the second scoring goal.
