Aggies concede in 79th minute as Washington State prevails at Ellis, 3-2
As hotly-contested as the August heat.
Sunday evening’s match between Texas A&M and Washington State was heated with 30 fouls and a kickoff temperature nearing 110 degrees Fahrenheit, but it was the visiting Cougars who came out winners with a 3-2 scoreline.
“We have a lot of games to go,” MaKhiya McDonald said. “The season isn’t over. We’re still two games in.”
Early on, it was the Maroon & White applying the offensive pressure, and it eventually led to the icebreaker.
In the seventh minute, a Maile Hayes shot found the netting of Washington State goalkeeper Nadia Cooper’s goal, but the Aggie striker was ruled offside.
Seven minutes later, A&M keeper Kenna Caldwell’s free kick in Cougar territory resulted in McDonald dribbling through traffic in the goalbox. A chip entered the net as McDonald put the Aggies up 1-0.
“When I get my chance in front of goal, being opportunistic, creating chances for my team and helping us get on the board,” McDonald said.
However, A&M was unable to build on the 14th-minute marker.
After a poor pass from Adysen Armenta that deflected off Quinn Cornog, Cougar forward Naomi Clark had plenty of open space in front of a retreating Caldwell in the 22nd minute. Clark slid the ball past Caldwell to even the scoresheet.
Tied 1-1 at halftime, the Aggies found themselves in a similar situation, and just like Thursday’s opener with No. 6 Florida State, Sunday ended in second-half disappointment.
“These are the things that we need to learn because these are the teams that we want to play when postseason time comes around in November and December,” head coach G Guerrieri said. “We don't want to pay the price that ends the season, so these are the ones that we have to clean up.”
The Cougars went up 2-1 in the 53rd minute after Margo Matula was unable to escape a foul in the box as Megan Santa Cruz subsequently converted the spot against Caldwell.
In the 60th minute, it was Maile Hayes earning a penalty after drawing a foul in Washington State’s goal box.
Much like Santa Cruz moments before, Hayes promptly scored from the spot, tying the game, 2-2.
“I was confident in myself,” Hayes said. “I think that’s the main thing going into a penalty kick.”
Still, the game-winning shot came in the 79th minute as Grayson Lynch put Washington State up for good.
“It’s just staying focused for the full 90 minutes,” Hayes said. “That’s what’s really important for us right now.”
A&M will play Baylor on Saturday, Aug. 26 at Ellis Field with a 7 p.m. CT kickoff.
“When we play Baylor next Saturday, from now until then, can we clean these things up and make it look that much better,” Guerrieri said.