Matched up against a ranked team off to its best start in program history, the Arizona soccer team nearly prevented itself from becoming the fifth win for No. 8 Texas.

But after taking an early 1-0 lead in the game’s opening half, Arizona (3-2) allowed the Longhorns (5-0) to equalize and then hit the game-winning goal in double overtime in a 2-1 loss in Austin, Tex., last night, dropping the Wildcats to 1-1 for the weekend.

“”I’m disappointed with the result. I thought we played really well,”” said UA head coach Dan Tobias. “”I’m so proud of them, how we performed. But credit goes to Texas, that’s why they’re a team perennially in the top 10. They find ways to get the result.””

With the 2007 upset of then No. 3-ranked Texas still on Arizona’s minds, the Wildcats entered last night’s contest fired up.

That intensity showed as Arizona dominated the first half, outshooting the Longhorns 5-3. The offensive attacks paid off as forward Renae Cuellar put Arizona on top 1-0 in the game’s 29th minute off an assist by forward Sally Thurner.

The goal was the freshman’s third of the young season, and second of the weekend, putting her in front of teammate Karina Camacho for the team leader in goals scored.

“”It was a great little combination,”” Tobias said of the goal. “”Camacho to Renae (Cuellar) who pitched it to the far post, it was a nice goal.

“”We had a couple other good chances in the first half, too,”” Tobias added. “”I felt we came out with a very good intensity.””

While goalkeeper Chelsea McIntyre and the Wildcats’ defense held strong throughout the entire first half, they could not hold off a barrage of Texas shots midway through the second as the Longhorns’ Courtney Goodson finally broke through Arizona’s barrier and snuck one past McIntyre, knotting the game at 1.

From then on, defense took center stage as neither team budged, resulting in the first overtime period of Arizona’s season.

Through the first overtime, both teams held each other in check. But in the second extra period, Texas took advantage of a rebound off of a free kick to slip in the winning goal in the 105th minute.

“”They had a free kick on our ride side about 40 yards from the goal,”” Tobais said. “”Two players went up for it and then the ball just went straight up and (Goodson) just jumped up over everybody and put it in and that turned out to be the game winner.

While Arizona struggled to find space in the net last night, the same could not be said Friday night against Weber State. The Wildcats breezed to a seemingly easy 4-0 shutout win at Murphey Stadium, riding a wave of offense.

McIntyre picked up her third win in spectacular fashion without allowing a goal. The junior was forced to leave her feet on numerous occasions to deflect Weber State’s nine shots on goal.

“”I’m definitely feeling pretty comfortable (in the net),”” McIntyre said. “”(Friday) was a good win, especially coming back from the BYU loss. Three shutouts now feels awesome.””

Again, it was Cuellar striking the Arizona rally with a chip shot over Weber State goalkeeper Rebecca Ritchie. The goal tied the freshman with Camacho – who also assisted Cuellar on the play.

“”(Cuellar) has really been helping us with these early goals,”” said forward Jacqueline Broussard. “”She’s got a great attitude, she wants to work hard, she’s really adjusted well. Renae came in with some lofty goals, and so far, she’s been living up to them.””

Scoring early has become a trademark of sorts for Cuellar, who has scored all three of her career goals in the opening 30 minutes of each game.

The quick start proved beneficial for Arizona Friday as the team took the early advantage and held off Weber State throughout the rest of the game while knocking three more balls into the net in the game’s final 20 minutes.

“”We’ve been working on a few new plays that help us get the ball deep,”” Broussard said. “”We’re just overall putting a lot more emphasis on everything and it’s starting to show.””