Ka-Boom! UT-Austin senior goalkeeper Abby Smith made ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays on Sunday, when she scored on a 90-yard punt to give the UT Longhorns a 1-0 win over Miami in their season opener. Amazingly, Smith also scored the Longhorns’ first goal of the season last year – that one on a 45-yard free kick. This Friday is a very special home opener for the Horns – hosting perennial power (and UT coach Angela Kelly‘s alma mater) North Carolina at 7:30pm at Myers Stadium. On Sunday, Aug. 30, is a double-header: The Horns take on nationally-ranked Ohio State at 1pm, after North Carolina plays UT-San Antonio at 10:30am. Tickets and info at www.texassports.com.
The Austin Aztex broke a three-game losing streak Saturday night, blanking Orange County 1-0 on a nice finish by Kris Tyrpak; they’re in Oklahoma City this Saturday, trying to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, before hosting the last home game of the season the next Saturday, Sept. 5, 7:30pm, against Seattle Sounders 2.
The European Champions League playoff round ended this week, with Monaco, Glasgow Celtic, and Italy’s Lazio the high profile casualties. The 32-team group stage will include five teams from Spain for the first time, along with four each from England and Germany. The draw for the group stage is today, Thu., Aug. 27, with play running Sept. 15 through Dec. 9.
This article appears in August 28 • 2015.