Aggie Soccer pitches a shutout against Lamar, 1-0 for 14th-straight win
The 6th-ranked Aggies took to Ellis Field for the first round of the NCAA women’s soccer tournament Friday hosting the Lamar Cardinals. Confidently carrying a 13-game streak and a 17-2-1 overall record, the Ags were hungry for another win.
The Aggies kept the train rolling as they defeated the Cardinals, 1-0 Friday to extend their winning streak to a program-record 14 games.
The brisk November night started off electric and full of energy both on and off the field. Right off the bat the 12th Man was lively and ready to help push A&M to victory. Similarly, the Lady Ags proved that the cold weather was no match for their heated desire to win. After a little over seven minutes of play had elapsed, A&M took an early lead courtesy of an own goal by the Cardinals; 1-0. The own goal is the third in as many games surrendered by A&M opponents.
As the second half of play commenced, both the Aggies and the Cardinals remained focused and aggressive. But to no avail as both goaltenders held strong, and the game finished at the scoreline of 1-0, punching the Aggies' ticket to round two.
Texas A&M head coach G Guerrieri had high praise for Lamar during the postgame press conference.
“We just weren't dangerous enough in the last six yards, the chances that we missed were so close from lack of concentration or lack of getting that last step. You’ve gotta give Lamar a lot of credit for what they did to ensure that we did not find a way to get that insurance goal."
The match marked the first time since October 10th against LSU that the Aggies didn't tally more than a single goal in a game. On the opposite side of the field for A&M, the shutout was the eighth of the season for Cosette Morche and the Aggie defense.
Lamar was kept in the game by their keeper, Lauren Lovejoy. “I knew I had everything to lose and I just wanted to play my hardest and play my heart out and that’s what I did," Said Lovejoy after the game. "I left it all out on the field and I can say that because I know I did.”
With their victory, the Aggies will advance to round two of the NCAA Tournament against the winner of the Notre Dame, IUPUI match tomorrow in South Bend. No matter the outcome of that match, A&M will host round two next weekend at Ellis Field.