The women’s soccer team dropped its season opener against the Texas Longhorns Friday night by a final score of 2-1.

The match was physical and closely contested from start to finish. Within the first five minutes of the match, sophomore midfielder Kara Blosser picked up a yellow card on a collision with Texas goalie Alexa Gaul as both players attempted to make a play on a 50-50 ball. Senior forward Kara Baldy picked up another yellow card at the 12-minute mark.

“For me, the one yellow that Kara Blosser got against the goalkeeper, that was a 50-50 ball that the referee thought was a foul,” coach Steve Springthorpe said. “I thought we played hard. We tackled the ball and did all of the things that we needed to do. And that’s college soccer for you. That’s how we’re [going to] have to play. “

State’s first half was also characterized by missed scoring opportunities. The Pack attempted five shots on goal, but could not put any points on the board. Of those five shots, Gaul had to make the save on just two of them. The Longhorns also struggled to break through offensively, as State only allowed one shot on goal.

“Their goalie made amazing saves,” junior goalie Kim Kern said. “She was very good. She helped keep them in the game in the first half. “

In the second half, both teams began to create more opportunities on the offensive side of the ball. Texas forward Gabby Zarnegar opened the scoring in the 49th minute on a shot from the right side of the net.

Pack freshman Jennie Krauser scored her first career goal 10 minutes later on a put-back of a shot from Blosser.

“Kara Blosser struck a shot, I ran there, followed it and put a foot on it,” Krauser said. “Coach [Springthorpe] always says, ‘Follow the shot, follow the shot, because you never know when the keeper might drop the ball,’ and she did.”

But in the 77th minute, Longhorn Leah Fortune connected on a shot to the lower right corner of the net. State was not able to strike back, leaving the final score at 2-1, Texas.

Springthorpe said he was pleased with how his team performed defensively, despite the two goals in the second half. He said Texas came with a better strategy that made the difference in the outcome of the game.

“It was more of what they were starting to do,” Springthorpe said. “We only gave up four or five shots and only two or three on goal. That’s not a bad effort from a back line. I was pretty happy with what they did.”

Springthorpe also took a risk by starting three freshmen in the first match of the season. He said they responded well to the pressure.

“We lined up the players we thought would give us the best chance for success in this game,” Springthorpe said. “And for the most part I thought they did well. There’s youth out there for sure with these younger players and it sometimes makes a difference.”