Mean Green Open Season With A Shutout Win At UNLV

[Jonnyeagle]

LAS VEGAS – The UNT women’s soccer team opened the 2023 season with a 3-0 win at UNLV on Thursday night.

 

The win improves the Mean Green’s streak to 12 straight season opening wins and 17 straight years without a season opening loss.

 

On Thursday in Las Vegas, UNT, which features 15 newcomers to its roster, got offensive production from its returners as sophomore Summer Brown and seniors Jenna Sheely and Devyn Flannery scored for the Mean Green (1-0).

 

“The win was huge and well-deserved,” Flannery said. “It's always exciting to grab a road win, especially in Vegas. Tonight was a compete team effort and it gives us a lot of momentum going into our season.”

 

Flannery scored the second goal of the match, which came in the 32nd minute. She received the through ball from sophomore Kat Burnell and then stepped inside to beat the defender and fired off a left-footed shot.

 

Thursday was her first regular season match played since having knee surgery last year, which cut her season short. She came off the bench against the Rebels (0-1) and played 20 minutes. Her goal was her first and only shot of the night.

 

Flannery has scored now eight career goals and is the program’s active career leader in goals scored for UNT.

 

“I love our depth tonight and our fight throughout the game,” head coach John Hedlund said. “Nothing comes easy on the road but I challenged their mental toughness playing in this heat and they came through with a 3-0 shoutout.”

 

Sheely got the scoring started for UNT on Thursday in the 11th minute. The fifth-year senior caught the UNLV keeper off her line and fired the shot from well over 30 yards away that connected for her team’s first goal of the season. It’s the midfielder’s sixth career goal.

 

Brown added the third goal for North Texas in the 56th minute. 

The sophomore who was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team last year scored from the top of the 18-yard box after a deflection from a free kick came right towards her. She beat the UNLV keeper to the right.

It was Brown’s fifth career goal.

Newcomer Maddie Ogden was named the season opening starting goalkeeper by Hedlund

Ogden made six saves in route to the shutout road win for her new team.

North Texas returns home on Sunday to host Northwestern State for it season home opener. Sunday’s match is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+.

 Olympic Sport Passes for next season's Mean Green volleyball, soccer and softball seasons are available now. Fans can purchase a general admission Olympic Sport Pass for $75 and receive season tickets for all three teams.