Freshman forward Mallory Hromatko set up a pair of goals to lead UCSB to a 2-0 win over Texas on Friday night at Harder Stadium, putting the Gauchos in the win column for the first time this season.
Both of Hromatko’s assists came in the second half, finding freshman forward Jessica Parque in the 57th minute and sophomore midfielder Chace Schornstein in the 86th minute. It was the first goal of Parque’s career and the first of the season – third career – for Schornstein.
Texas (1-2-1) ended up outshooting the Gauchos 11-8 on the night, but UCSB (1-2-1) actually did a good job at controlling possession and limiting chances for the Longhorns. Most of UT’s attempts came in the final 10 minutes of the game as they scrambled to find an equalizer.
After Schornstein’s goal, Texas threw everything they had at the Gauchos, and it was junior keeper Jacq Caginia who stood tall, turning away a pair of good-looking chances in the final minutes of the contest. The UCSB netminder made four saves total on the evening, all coming in the second half.
Both UCSB goals looked almost identical. Both times, Hromatko worked herself into position down the right wing, then manipulated her defender(s) before sending in a low cross to the penalty area.
On the first goal, Parque made a run all the way from the far post to meet the pass at the edge of the six-yard box, putting a first-touch strike on it and curling it between the inside post and the arms of Texas keeper Abby Smith.
On the latter tally and from a very similar position, Schornstein got her foot under the pass and looped it over Smith’s head and inside the far post.
Hromatko, a Danville native, has four points (one goal, two assists) in her last two contests.
Texas’s best chance at a goal came in the 59th minute, as Kayra Dollas redirected a header off the UCSB goalpost.
Parque led all Gauchos on the night with three shots, all of which were on frame.
Lindsey Meyer and Dollas both had three shots to lead the Longhorns, while Smith made four saves.
The Gauchos will look to build on tonight’s win as they next take on Sacramento State at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday at Harder Stadium.
