Rivals in soccer tend to despise, even hate each other, and I'd chance a guess that the North Texas and SMU women fit that description accurately.
If UNT didn't hate SMU (their fans sure do) before Friday's game, it does now. SMU took a 3-2 overtime victory in Denton, and in front of the largest crowd (1,246) ever to witness a UNT home match. The old attendance mark was 1,173 against Oklahoma in 2008. As usual, this team has quite the following for big matches...heck, even matches not so big.
UNT led 1-0 before SMU got the equalizer in the 43rd minute on a strong volley. UNT added a penalty kick in the 63rd minute for a 2-1 lead, but SMU scored again in the 74th minute to force an eventual OT. Too bad UNT couldn't hang on in regulation, because SMU scored the match-winner four minutes into OT.
In the wouldn't-it-be nice file, SMU and UNT should play twice a season, home and home to really fuel this thing up. Hate is a good thing, and as rough-and-tumble as soccer can get -- women's particularly -- playing twice would only benefit both programs.
On to conference play for UNT (5-3-1).
No comments:
Post a Comment