Taming the Texans: Houston soccer rolls past Tarleton State

In an all-Texas matchup, Houston women’s soccer rounded out its two-game homestand with a blow-by 4-1 victory over Tarleton State. 

“Overall, another win,” coach Ben Williams said. “Should’ve had a clean sheet, but still got some things to clean up before next week.”

The first half was a mixed bag for the Cougars. Despite outshooting the Texans 12-8, Houston’s intensity in the half was inconsistent compared to what Williams wants from his team.

“We weren’t good enough in the first half,” Williams said. “We were a bit too lackadaisical. Didn’t go at them enough. We were just trying to get through it.”

Both goalkeepers were called into action early, with Houston junior Sierra McCluer and Tarleton State fifth-year Rylie Bloomfield having four and five saves, respectively.

Houston broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when sophomore forward Bailey Cate found space on the right flank, took on her defender and fired a shot past Bloomfield for the lead.

After halftime adjustments, the Cougars came out in aggressive form. About six minutes into the second half, junior defender Blake Hodgson whipped in a cross from the left flank that bounced off junior forward Jada Arthurs inside the six-yard box, where junior forward Skylar Miller had all the time and space for the tap-in goal.

The left flank was put to good use again in the 61st minute. Fifth-year defender Laney Gonzales put in a cross that found the head of freshman forward Elle Sloan, who then comfortably put a header inside the net from the six-yard box. 

Eight minutes later, Houston was awarded a penalty after a handball in the box by the Texans’ junior midfielder Adelaide Wyrzynski, which senior forward Adelhia Ghonda comfortably put past Bloomfield to make it four goals for the Cougars.

But the intensity let up once again, which allowed Tarleton State to score a consolation goal in the 87th minute from freshman forward Naomi Langille.

“We just fell off again the last five minutes, kept playing backwards, which invited them,” Williams said. “Regardless of anything, we want to keep clean sheets. We can’t give goals up in the last three minutes of games. That’s just a bad mentality to have.” 

The Cougars will now travel east to Elmer Gray Stadium in Abilene, Texas, where they will take on the Abilene Christian Wildcats Thursday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m.