Olivieri scores twice as Aggies shut out Bulldogs, 3-0
The No. 9 Texas A&M Aggies (3-1) now have a win streak after a 3-0 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Aggie freshman Barbara Olivieri scored twice in the first half to help usher A&M to the win.
Mississippi State (2-1-2), who came in with the momentum of back-to-back wins, had not allowed more than a single goal in its first four matches. Yet it was G Guerrieri’s squad that played suffocating defense on Friday night, dominating the time of possession.
Scoring chances came early and often for the Aggies, but A&M could not find the back of the net until the 34th minute. After a cross found a way into the box, Lauren Geczik located an open Olivieri who struck a beautiful one-timer into the bottom left corner.
Texas A&M wasted no time after its first goal, scoring only three minutes later in the 37th minute. Olivieri found herself in the right place at the right time off a turnover and notched her second goal of the half.
“I just kind of read the play,” Olivieri said about the second goal. “I knew the deflection would bounce off her weird, and I was able to get there and put one in.”
The Aggies took a 2-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, having outshot the visiting Bulldogs 13-3 in the first half.
Even in the second half, Mississippi State never found a way to get through the Aggies’ midfield and defense.
“I would put our back 4 up against anyone in the league right now,” Guerrieri said regarding his team’s defense. “Opposing strikers are typically tired with how well our defenders can hold and maintain the ball.”
While A&M was focused on playing keep away and minimizing State’s chances, sophomore Ali Russell scored her first-ever collegiate goal for the Aggies in the 61st minute. Another cross from the outside found an open Kate Colvin, who was able to dish it off to Russell for the goal.
“It has been a waiting game,” Russell said. “It was an amazing feeling when everyone was running at you screaming, wanting to celebrate with you.”
After Russell's goal in the 61st minute, A&M proficiently kept care of possession and shut down any chance of a late surge from the Bulldogs. At the end of the game, the shooting totals favored Texas A&M 19-6.
The Aggies, now with back-to-back home victories at Ellis, will aim to ride the momentum on the road against Tennessee and Alabama.
“Those are places where we have struggled to see results in the past,” Guerrieri noted. “Those are great challenges for us, but we are excited about the opportunity.”
Olivieri expressed optimism about the road trip.
“This definitely gives us confidence going forward, and if we can do this at home we can do it on the road.”
The Aggies’ match against Tennessee will kick off next Friday, October 23, at 7:00 p.m. on SEC Network+.