Soccer Ends Fall With Intersquad Scrimmage

DENTON — In North Texas soccer's 26-year history, the 2020 season has by far been the most unusual.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was postponed from its normal fall schedule to the spring. Yet the Mean Green soccer team, which is the most successful program on campus and has had no losing seasons and won 16 conference championships, still practiced extremely hard this fall as they aim to continue their current run of six straight conference titles.

On Friday, which normally would have been the final week of the regular season, the Mean Green played their final intersquad 80-minute scrimmage in front of family and friends to close out fall training.

RESULT
The green team beat the black team 5-3.

PLAYERS OF THE MATCH
Sophomore forward Allie Byrd and senior defender Brooke Lampe.

Byrd scored two goals including the match-winner. She attempted five shots and put three on goal. Lampe played the entire match as the green team's centerback and head coach John Hedlund was very pleased with his captain's performance leading the backline.

GOALS
11' Allie Byrd (Green Team)
20' Olivia Klein (Green Team)
32' Berklee Peters (Green Team)
38' Desiree Ramirez (Black Team)
47' Miriam Espinosa (Black Team)
53' Connor Barker (Black Team)
71' Allie Byrd (Green Team)
73' Elle Marie DeFrain (Green Team)

GOAL OF THE MATCH
Senior Elle Marie DeFrain received the ball at the top of the box from sophomore Michelle Gonzalez and dribbled past a crowd of defenders and then through the black team's defensive backline to rip a shot that the keeper had little chance to save. DeFrain's goal came with just seven minutes remaining and sealed the victory for her green team.

NOTABLE NOTES

The Mean Green's midfield of Taylor Tufts, Michelle Gonzalez and Elle Marie DeFrain played extremely well together and controlled much of the middle of the park, especially in the first half.
Sophomore Desiree Ramirez was the black team's strongest offensive weapon early on. She put three shots on goal in the first half and showed off her blistering speed on numerous ocations.
Junior Olivia Klein was deadly with the ball at her feet. She was dangerous within 20 yards and her shot has only gotten more powerful.
Forwards Berklee Peters — last season's leading goal scorer — Allie Byrd and Olivia Klein are one of the most potent attacking groups the Mean Green have had in a while and is by far one of the best in Conference USA.
Freshman forward Miriam Espinosa has proven herself to be a weapon off the bench for the Mean Green and someone who will work for goals.
Keeper Kelsey Brann is still legit. The reigning C-USA Goalkeeper of the Year, made save after save on Friday and switched teams at halftime from the green team to the black team. She made 10 saves on Friday and faced six shots in the final 15 minutes of the intersquad scrimmage. She was the loudest on the field and showed why she is a captain.
Along with Miriam Espinosa, Mackenzie Stricklin, Connor Barker and Allie Lyons have given UNT incredible depth at the top of the field. The four of them combined for 10 shots on Friday and scored two goals. Stricklin didn't score but put two shots on net and hit the crossbar once. Moving the season to the spring is actually advantageous to Barker who transferred to UNT from Louisiana Tech last spring and will be eligible to play in the spring.
North Texas' freshman Madi Starrett and Haley Roberson are going to compete for starting fullback positions in the spring. The freshmen have been tremendous all fall and looked confident in attacking on Friday.
Sophomore Taylor Hunter bounced around positions last year and scored a couple goals early in the year. But the tallest field player in program history has found her spot at centerback and looks confident on the backline. The Denton native made a huge save in the first half when the keeper had come off her line, Hunter raced back and saved a shot before it crossed the goal line.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Players Mentioned

Connor Barker

Kelsey Brann

Allie Byrd

Elle Marie DeFrain

Michelle Gonzalez

Taylor Hunter

Olivia Klein

Brooke Lampe

Allie Lyons

Berklee Peters

Desiree Ramirez

Haley Roberson

Madi Starrett

Mackenzie Stricklin

Taylor Tufts

Upcoming Events

University of North Texas Athletics