Soccer
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photo courtesy of University of North Texas
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Soccer Draws Western Kentucky, Falls In PKs |
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn.- North Texas played Western Kentucky to a scoreless tie, but Western Kentucky advanced on penalty kicks 4-3. North Texas went to a penalty shootout for advancement for the first time in 17 years as a program. "It's unfortunate that this game has to be decided by penalty kicks," said North Texas Head Coach John Hedlund. "I thought we had won the game late when Michele Young's shot skimmed off the far post, it's defintely a game of inches." "Nevertheless, I'm proud of what this team accomplished. We won the Sun Belt regular season title, and this special group of players will be remembered as champions." The Mean Green (14-4-3) and Western Kentucky (13-6-2) did not score a goal in 110 minutes of play. This is North Texas' first scoreless draw since 2009, and North Texas' fifth overall. Western Kentucky made four of five penalties, only missing the second. North Texas missed the first and the fifth penalty kick. Jackie Kerestine recorded her ninth shutout of the season and becomes only the second North Texas keeper to record two consecutive shutouts in the Sun Belt Tournament. She set the North Texas single-season Goals Against Average record in just her freshman year, finishing the season with a mark of 0.71. She tied a career-high with 10 saves. Michelle Young led North Texas offense with eight shots, two on goal. Western Kentucky out-shot North Texas 15-13, but North Texas earned nine corners to WKU's six. GAME NOTES: This is North Texas 9th game this season where neither team scores in the first half and is 5-2-2 in those games ... North Texas has held its opponent scoreless 17 times in the first half and is 13-2-2 in those games ... This is North Texas' first overtime conference tournament game since the 2003 Sun Belt Final, a 1-0 loss to Denver … North Texas has a five-game unbeaten streak as the No. 1 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament. |
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