AUSTIN (KXAN) — When big moments present themselves, the best players seize them.
All-American midfielder Lexi Missimo found Carly Montgomery off a corner kick for the game-winning goal late in the second half to propel Texas to a 1-0 win over South Carolina, lifting the Longhorns women’s soccer team to the school’s first Southeastern Conference title in any sport Sunday in Pensacola, Florida.
Texas, seeded No. 3 in the tournament, held the fourth-seeded Gamecocks attack at bay thanks to seven saves by goalkeeper Mia Justus to capture the school’s first SEC title in any sport after entering this season.
Missimo’s 11th assist of the season was a perfectly placed kick to the back post, allowing the 5-foot-10 Montgomery to sky over a smaller South Carolina defender to put her head on it past the Gamecocks’ Christina Tsaousis in the 80th minute. It was Montgomery’s second goal of the season and first since scoring Sept. 5 against San Diego State.
“I just made eye contact with Lexi,” Montgomery said. “I knew she was going to hit it in, so all I could do was just try to get my head on it and make a play for my teammates, who have worked so hard this entire week, so it was all for them.”
Justus saved Corinna Zullo’s attempt to preserve the lead in the 85th minute. Zullo took a half-volley following a free kick and firing it toward the goal. Justus laid out low to her right and parried the shot away.
South Carolina’s Catherine Barry, the SEC’s leading goal scorer, had a shot glance off the far post a minute after Zullo’s try.
Longhorns head coach Angela Kelly said Justus has carried the team this season and deserves to be considered one of the best keepers in the country.
“She has so many years ahead of her and I’m just so grateful she’s been with us here at The University of Texas,” Kelly said. “She’s a wonderful, wonderful shot-stopper. She’s tremendous with her feet to be able to make unbelievable saves and you need those kinds of players to step up in big moments to win these kinds of tournaments.”
It’s the third win in the past five days for the Longhorns. They beat Louisiana State in the quarterfinals 3-0 on Nov. 5, then turned away Arkansas 2-1 in double overtime Nov. 7 thanks to a Lauren Lapomarda golden goal.
Texas (16-3-1, 6-3-1) earned the SEC’s automatic bid in the NCAA women’s soccer national tournament. The tournament field and first-round matchups will be announced at 3 p.m. CT Monday.