North Texas vs. Texas
Friday, Sept. 16
7 p.m. l Austin, TX
Longhorn Network l Game Notes

North Texas vs. Rice
Sunday, Sept. 18
7 p.m. l Houston, TX
Live Stats

DENTON - In the summer of 2013, freshmen Marchelle Davis and Katie Gernsbacher were roommates at the University of Texas. One was shy, the other more sociable. They had only talked a few times before moving into their shared dorm room. It could have been awkward, but instead, the two became fast friends.

Fast forward three years, and the two are playing together again, but for the North Texas Mean Green, and their friendship is as close as even.

"We just clicked," Davis said about their friendship. "We are the same person, but we are not. We are total opposites. She's more quiet, I'm outgoing. We just got put together randomly as freshmen, but it just worked out."

"We immediately became close," Gernsbacher said. "We spent every second together. She was over at my parent's house all the time, we were hanging out at the dorms."

The two drifted apart when Davis transferred to North Texas after her freshman year with the Longhorns. The two started talking last fall, and Davis convinced Gernsbacher to come to Denton for a visit.

Gernsbacher wasn't even thinking about playing soccer when she visited and stayed with Davis, but Gernsbacher went to Davis' parent's home and then met North Texas head coach John Hedlund.

"I wouldn't be playing here if it wasn't for her," Gernsbacher said.

Gernsbacher entered camp for the Mean Green this summer as a junior after playing for two seasons with the Longhorns. She quickly moved into the starting lineup and has played in the midfield with Davis and up top at forward. Gernsbacher registered her first point in a Mean Green uniform with an assist against Texas Southern on September 9.

Since Gernsbacher moved to Denton, she and Davis quickly picked up the friendship where they left off. They are not roommates, but they are still nearly inseparable.

"It's been like we were never apart," Davis said. "Our lives came back together again."

Now that they are closer to Davis' family in Trophy Club, the two are now hanging out at Davis' parents' home.

"They always say, your college friends are the one you keep," said Davis. "Katie's a keeper."

"We are really close, and I've had a lot of fun and I'm happy I came here," Gernsbacher said.

Davis and Gernsbacher will be returning to Austin on Friday, Sept. 16, when the Mean Green plays Texas for the first time since 2004.

Davis is second on the team with four goals and 10 points in a new position in the midfield.

The Mean Green will finish up non-conference play with the game against Texas, and then will open the Conference USA slate with a road game at Rice on September 18.