The flu prevented Texas from scrimmaging Southwestern last week and bad weather threatened the Longhorns’ first two regular-season games, but No. 17 Texas finally opened the 2010 season with a pair of victories after moving temporarily to the Westlake High School practice fields over the weekend.

The Horns took on conference rival Texas Tech last Saturday. Both teams had some early-season jitters and had a tough time finding the net in the opening quarter. Texas established a sizable lead late in the first half, but Tech remained close throughout.

It took a three-goal fourth quarter to seal the deal, but in the end Texas coasted to an 11-5 win and knocked off its first opponent.

Also on Saturday afternoon, Arizona defeated LSA contender Texas A&M 12-7. The game was closer than the final score indicated, but it let the Longhorns know that they had a tough game in store.

But on Sunday the Horns jumped out to an early 3-1 lead over the Wildcats. In the second quarter, Arizona proved much more resolute than Texas’ previous opponent—the Cats never allowed Texas to lead by more than two and even got within one late in the fourth quarter.

Arizona eventually drew even with less than three minutes to go off an own-goal by the Texas defense.

Neither team pulled ahead in the waning minutes of regulation, despite some close calls on the pipes, so they trudged into overtime tied at 7-7. It took an additional ten minutes, but in the dying Central Texas light midfielder Johnny McKnight stuck a sidearm shot behind the Arizona goalie, and just like that the Longhorns improved to 2-0 on the year.

Texas now moves on to face Southern Methodist, which beat Texas in 2009’s regular season, in a Friday night showdown at Whitaker Fields set to begin at 7 p.m. The Longhorns also face off against Louisiana State this weekend in another home game slated for 3 on Saturday afternoon.

By Will Anderson