So what do I know? In this week’s “Playing Through” column, I suggested that the University of Texas women’s soccer team didn’t have the offensive firepower to win the Big 12 Championship. Turns out I was sort of right – in the three conference title games played last week in San Antonio, the team scored only three goals in regulation – but, happily, the Longhorns won their division anyway with a 2-1 win over the Texas A&M Aggies. Tellingly, it was the team’s goalie, Dianna Pfenninger, who was selected as the tournament’s offensive MVP, having registered an assist in the conference final, as well as scoring the deciding penalty kicks in the quarterfinal win over Colorado and the semifinal win over Oklahoma State. Another telling stat: Texas A&M had 33 shots on goal against UT’s eight. Still, thanks to Pfenninger, the Longhorns managed to pull out the win. “She scored goals, she had an assist, she saved the ball – what more could you have asked her to do” said coach Chris Petrucelli. “The only thing she could have done would be take my spot and coach the team.” Well, now that you mention it, coach ….
The first round of the NCAA Division I Women Soccer Championship starts Friday, Nov. 16. The bracket will be announced tonight on ESPNews.
This article appears in November 9 • 2007.