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Texas soccer to face South Carolina in SEC title game after dramatic late goal

A dramatic, extra-time goal from an unlikely player lifted the Texas soccer team into Sunday’s SEC title game.

Fifth-year defender Lauren Lapomarda scored just her fourth career goal in the 108th minute as No. 21 Texas topped No. 5 Arkansas 2-1 in an SEC semifinal Thursday in Pensacola, Fla. The Longhorns (15-3-2), in their first SEC campaign, will face South Carolina (10-2-7) at 1:30 p.m. Sunday for the conference tournament title.

With less than 90 seconds left in extra time, Lapomarda ran onto a loose ball and sent a shot from nearly 30 yards out over the outstretched hands of Arkansas keeper Keegan Smith for the winner.

Texas defender Lauren Lapomarda, bringing the ball up against Alabama earlier this season, scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Arkansas in an SEC semifinal Friday in Pensacola, Fla.
Texas defender Lauren Lapomarda, bringing the ball up against Alabama earlier this season, scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Arkansas in an SEC semifinal Friday in Pensacola, Fla.

“I was going and got the ball and thought, ‘Why not me? Why not us? Why not Texas?’” Lapomarda said. “I saw their keeper playing up and noticed the back post and said, ‘Why not?’

“Shoutout to the team; everyone did a phenomenal job. You have to give credit to Arkansas, too. They are a great team, top five team in the country, and we are grateful they gave us a great battle.”

Twenty days after the two programs combined for a seven-goal match in Austin, the SEC semifinal proved a much cagier affair. After allowing a one-timer off the foot of Kennedy Ball into the upper right corner of the goal during the 16th minute, Texas keeper Mia Justus kept her team in the match by making 12 of her career-high 14 saves.

Justus’ 14 saves are the most in a single match by a Texas goalkeeper since 2000, and they tied for 10th on the program’s single-match list.

After a Razorback own goal during the 39th minute tied the match, both teams’ goalkeepers kept a clean slate until Lapomarda’s late shot.

“I felt the match was either going into (penalty kicks) or end with something like that,” Texas coach Angela Kelly said. “Somebody had to be on the end of the finish, and Lapo has definitely given everything and more for this program. I’m sure that’s something she’ll never forget, and that’s one this program will never forget either.”

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas soccer beats Arkansas, reaches SEC championship game