Stayin' Alive! A&M advances as Pante's miraculous goal stuns Colorado
A bracket-buster?
Shockingly given an 8-seed, Texas A&M soccer will keep dancing in the NCAA Tournament as the Aggies defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 1-0 at a cold and misty Ellis Field on Friday night.
“Yeah, we’re here to mess up everyone’s brackets,” Jazmine Wilkinson said.
It was evenly matched between the Aggies and the Buffaloes, as the home team shot 11 times, with five on goal, and the visitors finished with 13 shots for four on frame.
“We’re thrilled to be moving forward in the NCAA Tournament,” coach G Guerrieri said. “You got to give Colorado a ton of credit because it was a really competitive game.”
Faith Leyba attempted to tackle away the ball from Mia Pante, but the ball deflected over the Buffaloes goalie, Jordan Nytes, for a 22nd-minute stunner.
“I just put my head down and tried to pressure the ball,” Pante said. “I think [Guerrieri] said it perfectly. I was just out there trying to help us work hard. I mean, it’s about time we get some luck.”
Taking down a Colorado forward in A&M’s defensive area, Margo Matula was shown a yellow card later in the 22nd minute.
A combined 22 fouls and three bookings between Colorado and A&M made for an aggressive, high-tempo match.
Shoving down Andersen Williams outside of the center circle and stepping over her after the foul, Shyra James was given a yellow card in the 35th minute.
“James is their big striker up front,” Guerrieri said. “To be able to hold her scoreless was a big ask for our defense, and I couldn’t be prouder of our goalkeeper and our back four.”
Bodying off two defenders in Colorado’s 18-yard box, Pante attempted to double the lead in the 55th minute. Taylor Pounds went to head it in but collided with Nytes, and Wilkinson was there to hit it in.
However, the goal was disallowed due to Pounds’ foul.
“That was a bit unlucky,” Wilkinson said.
Maile Hayes was booked with a yellow card for dissent in the 66th minute following a Kate Colvin foul.
The Aggie victory in front of 1,659 at Ellis Field is the 40th NCAA Tournament win in program history and the 25th in the last 27 seasons.
To reach 41, the Maroon & White will have to truly bust many a bracket.
A&M will travel to Tallahassee on Friday, Nov. 17, to face No.1 overall seed Florida State in the second round.
“They’re clearly the best team in the country,” Guerrieri said. “The number one seed in the tournament. We have our work cut out for us.”
Next week’s match will be a rematch from an Aug. 17 meeting in College Station, which the then-No. 6 Seminoles took, 2-1.