AUSTIN, Texas — The game could not have started much better for Northwestern State. And it ended in spectacular fashion, as the Demons soccer team scored its first-ever victory over a ranked opponent with a season-opening 3-2 upset at No. 19 Texas on Thursday evening at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Emily Senatore found the back of the net twice, including what turned out to be the game-winner, and Hosane Soukou scored a goal in her first career game, leading NSU (1-0) to its most monumental triumph in 28 years of program history against the preseason No. 2 in the SEC.
“All credit goes to the girls,” head coach Ian Brophy said. “They executed really well and played for each other. I am really proud of them.”
Senatore wasted little time putting NSU on the scoreboard in this one, scoring an unassisted goal in the fifth minute on the Demons’ first shot of the game, shortly after a corner kick.
But the 19th-ranked hosts responded with two goals to take a 2-1 lead at halftime.
The Longhorns tied it up in the 25th minute following a long pass to Ava McDonald and a mishit by the NSU defense, leading to an open opportunity for McDonald, who sent it past a diving Kennedy Rist. In the 33rd minute, Texas grabbed its first lead when Amalia Villarreal raced into the box and shot it to the left side of the net from just right of the box.
Villarreal, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, attempted a whopping 10 shots with eight on frame, including that goal.
Texas controlled the final 40 minutes of the half, out-shooting NSU 16-2. But the lead was just 2-1.
While the offense was trying to break through against the Texas defense, Rist was a brick wall in net.
Overall, Rist made 13 saves to keep the Demons in the game. The 13 saves are tied for the eighth-most saves in a game in program history.
“She kept us in the game,” Brophy said. “I knew that if we didn’t allow another goal, the chances were there for us to score against them.”
While Rist shined, NSU needed a spark offensively.
Enter freshman Hosane Soukou. After playing 13 of the 45 minutes in the first half, Soukou started the second half and delivered when her team needed her the most.
In the 61st minute, she scored the tying goal on a lead feed from Riley Stern. Soukou had a clear look at the net and put it home, just over a minute after having another shot stopped.
“For a freshman, the way she fought, she didn’t look like a freshman,” Brophy said. “It was an unbelievable goal. She took advantage of her moments and gave Texas defenders fits all game long.”
Between Soukou and Kendall Hemperley, freshmen recorded four of the seven shot attempts by the Demons.
Shortly after another corner kick, Senatore shot one through traffic and past UT goalkeeper Mateya Dessieux for her second goal in the 72nd minute.
“Those were two unreal goals by Emily,” Brophy said. “She can score from anywhere. She is one of the best scoring midfielders in the conference and maybe the entire country. Defensively, she was outstanding as well. It was the best game I have ever seen from her.”
While Senatore and Soukou gave the visitors the advantage, Rist closed the door on the Longhorns. The redshirt junior made three saves in the final 17 minutes, including one in the box where she challenged a Texas player and stopped it to keep NSU in front.
Texas frantically tried to come back, attempting seven shots in the final 16:07, but Rist and the defense finished off the upset.
The Longhorns out-shot the Demons 25-7, including 16-7 on frame. NSU showed depth, as 19 players saw game action with 17 playing at least 18 minutes.
The Demons aim for another shocker when they travel to SMU on Sunday.