Photo by Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Texas A&M Soccer
No.11 Aggie Women's Soccer defeats Tulsa in first shutout of the season
After a difficult start to the season, Texas A&M Women's Soccer proved they have the passion and the skill to make the 2016 season a successful one.
Following two losses in the first three games of the season, Aggie Soccer came out of the gates strong in Sunday night's match-up against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Texas A&M's persistence in shots on goal would ultimately provide them with a 2-0 victory over Tulsa.
The fight would not be an easy one, though.
"Tulsa, every one of their players is taller than every one of our players," Coach G. Guerrieri said. "That physicality was something that we knew was going to be a good test for us. Good for our players that they came through on it."
Texas A&M certainly did more than come through.
It is not every day that a team will take 35 shots in one game. But the Aggies' exceptional persistence paid off.
In the 35th minute of the game, Texas A&M's Ashlynn Harryman cleared the ball past the Tulsa defenders, aiming for Brittany Crabtree at midfield. The perfectly placed pass gave Crabtree the opening she needed to make a 40 yard sprint to Tulsa's goal.
Abigail Cook, TexAgs
Ashlynn Harryman searches for an open teammate up the field.
Crabtree found herself one-on-one with the Tulsa goal keeper when she ripped a shot from 18 yards out. The ball sailed into the back of the net giving Crabtree her first goal of the season.
"It's good to play different things," Crabtree said.
"We were playing a lot in front of the defenders and I think Ashlynn (Harryman) really challenged them by putting a ball in behind. It's something they hadn't seen yet, which really helped me to be able to get in behind and score."
With only nine minutes remaining in the game, it was Cienna Arrieta who would reinforce the Aggies' lead.
Arrieta took one of the Aggies' 11 total corner kicks, planting it immediately in front of Tulsa's goal. The Golden Hurricane blocked the ball and, in a moment of confusion, provided an opening for Arrieta to strike again.
From 18 yards out, Arrieta was able to slip the ball in between the Tulsa defenders for the Aggies' second goal of the night and second of the season for true freshman Arrieta.
"Hats off to Cienna for putting a dangerous ball in there and making it work," Guerrieri said.
Equally as impressive was Texas A&M goal keeper Danielle Rice's shutout after six saves through the 90-minute game.
"That was a team effort by far," Rice said. "But I have to tell you, I was really hoping for the shutout today.
"It boosts the team overall to know that we can shut teams out, and it gives us the confidence to know that we can attack and go forward and go score."
Sunday night's shutout against Tulsa brings the Texas A&M season record to 2-2-0. The Aggies are now looking forward to their showdown against the Little Rock Trojans next Friday at 7:30pm.
Following two losses in the first three games of the season, Aggie Soccer came out of the gates strong in Sunday night's match-up against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Texas A&M's persistence in shots on goal would ultimately provide them with a 2-0 victory over Tulsa.
The fight would not be an easy one, though.
"Tulsa, every one of their players is taller than every one of our players," Coach G. Guerrieri said. "That physicality was something that we knew was going to be a good test for us. Good for our players that they came through on it."
Texas A&M certainly did more than come through.
It is not every day that a team will take 35 shots in one game. But the Aggies' exceptional persistence paid off.
In the 35th minute of the game, Texas A&M's Ashlynn Harryman cleared the ball past the Tulsa defenders, aiming for Brittany Crabtree at midfield. The perfectly placed pass gave Crabtree the opening she needed to make a 40 yard sprint to Tulsa's goal.
Abigail Cook, TexAgs
Ashlynn Harryman searches for an open teammate up the field.
"It's good to play different things," Crabtree said.
"We were playing a lot in front of the defenders and I think Ashlynn (Harryman) really challenged them by putting a ball in behind. It's something they hadn't seen yet, which really helped me to be able to get in behind and score."
With only nine minutes remaining in the game, it was Cienna Arrieta who would reinforce the Aggies' lead.
Arrieta took one of the Aggies' 11 total corner kicks, planting it immediately in front of Tulsa's goal. The Golden Hurricane blocked the ball and, in a moment of confusion, provided an opening for Arrieta to strike again.
From 18 yards out, Arrieta was able to slip the ball in between the Tulsa defenders for the Aggies' second goal of the night and second of the season for true freshman Arrieta.
"Hats off to Cienna for putting a dangerous ball in there and making it work," Guerrieri said.
Equally as impressive was Texas A&M goal keeper Danielle Rice's shutout after six saves through the 90-minute game.
"That was a team effort by far," Rice said. "But I have to tell you, I was really hoping for the shutout today.
"It boosts the team overall to know that we can shut teams out, and it gives us the confidence to know that we can attack and go forward and go score."
Sunday night's shutout against Tulsa brings the Texas A&M season record to 2-2-0. The Aggies are now looking forward to their showdown against the Little Rock Trojans next Friday at 7:30pm.
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