6:00: Morning News

Portillo’s late goal provides sluggish escape from Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas held No. 1 West Virginia to its lowest shot total this season, but Carla Portillo’s strike late in regulation carried the Mountaineers to a 1-0 win Sunday night.

Michelle Newhouse posted West Virginia’s 11th shutout of the season despite facing several first-half chances and extended her defense’s scoreless streak to 664 minutes, dating back to a goal by Richmond on Sept. 23.

The Big 12 champion Mountaineers (15-1-1, 7-0) have won eight straight matches but managed only 12 shots in a performance that didn’t satisfy coach Nikki Izzo-Brown.

“We can’t play halves – we have to play a complete game,” she said. “I think we were sluggish with our movements and passing in the first half. It was good to see us come out fighting in the second half. This team has high expectations. They didn’t meet those expectations in the first 45 minutes, but they did in the second.”

Portillo’s goal in the 79th minute drew gasps from the crowd, a line-drive shot from 23-yards out that sailed through traffic before clanging off the crossbar and behind Texas goalkeeper Paige Brown. Grace Cutler set up the shot, turning at the top of the box and placing a perfect ball at Portillo’s cleat.

The goal was Portillo’s second of the weekend. She now ranks second on the team with four goals this season.

“We just played the No. 1 team in the nation toe-to-toe,” said Longhorns senior Isabelle Kerr. “I’m just so excited about our team’s effort … and I’m pumped at how well we’re playing and all the effort we gave.

The Mountaineers finished with a 12-11 edge in shots and forced Paige into three saves. The four shots on-goal also were a season-low for WVU. The Longhorns placed six shots on-frame — the most allowed by WVU in league action this year — but Newhouse made the most of her fourth career start.

“Michelle was great today – she won the game for us tonight just like she did at Duke,” Izzo-Brown said.

Texas looked to earn the elusive first goal when Cyera Hintze found a bouncing ball inside the box. Her uncontested low shot was blocked when Newhouse hit the ground to deflect the ball out of play. The ensuing corner kick yielded nothing for UT.

In the first half, UT’s Katie Glenn sent a long shot toward the left post, forcing Newhouse  to leave her line and make the diving save.

Minutes later, WVU forward Sh’Nia Gordon’s on-target shot banged off the crossbar and out of play.





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