AUSTIN, Texas – After six long months, sports finally returned to the Forty Acres as Texas soccer (0-1-0) battled valiantly but dropped a hard-fought, 1-0 decision to Kansas (1-0-0) in both teams' 2020 season opener.

Texas Player Notes

• Freshman defender Lauren Lapomarda made her first collegiate start in Texas' backline against Kansas, playing 41 total minutes.
• Junior midfielder Julia Grosso led the Longhorns with three of Texas' 12 total shots, two on frame.

Team Notes

• All Big 12 teams are playing a conference-only schedule of nine total matches in fall 2020.
• Texas fell to 15-11-1 in season-opening matches and 14-9-2 all-time in Big 12 Conference openers.
• The Longhorns out-shot the Jayhawks during the match, 12-9, and led 7-4 in both shots on goal and corner kicks.
• UT also maintained a 56-44 % advantage in possession throughout the match.

The Details

It was Texas that created the most dangerous chances early on in the contest as both Grosso (7:41) and junior forward Mackenzie McFarland (11:44) each forced saves from KU goalkeeper Sarah Peters.

Grosso was at it again in the 21st minute as the Vancouver, British Columbia, native drove an effort on frame.

Senior midfielder Emily Strouphauer soon made it four straight Texas shots to begin the contest as her effort from inside the box traveled up and well over the crossbar at 25:54.

The Jayhawks finally managed their first shot of the contest at the 28:21 mark as midfielder Ryan Childers drove a lengthy effort into the hands of UT senior netminder Savannah Madden.

Neither squad was able to create much over the remainder of the first half as KU had two shots blocked away by the Texas defense to send the teams to the break locked at 0-0.

Kansas was on the front foot coming out of the locker room as midfielder Ceri Holland (45:48) and forward Brie Severns (51:27) had efforts deflected away by UT's "D."

The Longhorns eventually forced Peters into more action between the pipes on junior forward Cameron Brooks' drive at 65:39 and at 71:04 on another Strouphauer chance, while Kansas got a shot on frame from sub Gracely Briley at 68:02.

It was KU that eventually broke the scoreless deadlock at the 80:44 mark. Holland received a pass out on the left wing, made a quick move to her right past a defender towards the top edge of the box and somehow beat Madden with a low bouncing shot inside the left post.

With the Burnt Orange & White suddenly chasing an equalizer, KU's defense managed to limit the Longhorns to one final effort as Brooks' shot at 89:50 ventured harmlessly over the top.