WSU soccer bounced

Sometimes, it takes just one moment of brilliance to win a match. Friday, that one moment eluded Washington State.

Emily Anderson scored the game’s only goal in the 52nd minute as No. 19 Texas rode a strong second half to a 1-0 victory over Washington State at the University of Portland’s Merlo Field in the first round of the NCAA women’s soccer championship.

In a game that was sometimes skittish and often sloppy, Anderson’s fourth goal of the season sent the Cougars (10-6-5) home from their fourth NCAA tournament appearance and first since 2002.

“We’re disappointed. This is not the result we set out for,” WSU head coach Matt Potter said. “They had one moment of greatness, and they punished us. They are a good team with good personality and good players.”

Texas’ personality showed early. The Longhorns (13-3-4) were the quicker team out of the gate, their pace putting the Cougars on the back foot early on. UT had the game’s first chance, 14 minutes into the half. Midfielder Stephanie Logterman took the ball down the left channel, and with the WSU defense collapsing into the box, took a left-footed shot from 20 yards that went high and wide to the left.

But that was one of the few chances Texas had in the first half as the 24th-ranked Cougars began to find their legs.

WSU had consistent periods of possession – often in Texas’ half of the field – and had its best chance of the half a little more than 11 minutes before the break. Forward Carly Dobratz, the target of most of the Cougars’ attack throughout the evening, found a bit of space on the left. Her cross had Texas goalie Dianna Pfenninger stopping and starting, but was just a bit too tall for forward Emma Stoltz to control.

But for all its possession, WSU – playing without leading scorer Kiersten Dallstream, who was away with the Under-20 U.S. National Team – couldn’t find the pass that would split the Texas defense apart.

“We were missing that one piece of composure that would lead to chances,” Potter said. “We tried to force things. … The first half we settled down and created some half-chances, had some opportunities from set-pieces. But the second half became a bit of a mish-mosh.”

The goal came 6 minutes after the break. Anderson pounced on a loose ball just outside the Cougars’ penalty box, stepped to the right of two defenders and ripped a 20-yard shot into the bottom left corner of the net that bounced over WSU goalie Lindsay Parlee’s outstretched hands.

The goal – which snapped a shutout streak of 357:14 for WSU – seemed to take the wind out of the Cougars’ sails. Texas held a 10-3 shot advantage in the second half (14-6 overall) and had the Cougars chasing the game for the majority of the second half.

With 5 minutes left, forward Elysse Van Leer took a left-footed shot from the right side of the penalty box but pulled it to the right of goal and Dobratz’s strike from 20 yards with just less than 3 minutes remaining was swallowed up easily by Texas goalie Dianna Pfenninger.

“We did not play our best,” Potter said. “We had some turnovers and that led to more pressure. Rather than composing ourselves, we continued to play at 100 miles per hour. … We were excited to be here, but we are disappointed in the result. But it gives us something to build upon for next year.”

“This was a very difficult first-round draw for us,” Texas coach Chris Petrucelli said. “Their defense played well, they were well-organized and very well coached. … It was just a great individual effort, a great goal. It was a huge moment.”

One the Cougars just couldn’t get a handle on.

•WSU junior forward Kiersten Dallstream and sophomore goalkeeper Lindsay Parlee were named to the All-Pac-10 second team. Junior midfielder Carly Dobratz, freshman defender Ali Fenter (Shadle Park High) and junior forward Elysse Van Leer made honorable mention.

•Jenna Robison scored midway through the first overtime to give Washington (15-5-1) a 3-2 win over LSU (14-4-2) in an NCAA tournament opener at College Station, Texas.

•Illinois (12-8) defeated Memphis 1-0 in overtime during an NCAA tournament opener at Memphis, Tenn. Goalkeeper Elise Kuhar-Pitters (Gonzaga Prep) of the Tigers (15-5-2) held the Illini in check until Jordan Hilbrands scored with 7:42 left in the second overtime.