85th-minute goal sinks Texas A&M soccer on the banks of the Brazos

With a combined 21 fouls, two yellow cards and only four shots on goal, Friday’s match was a tight one.

And by the thinnest of margins, Texas A&M (2-2) fell to Baylor (4-1) in Waco, 1-0. After two years of ties, an 85th-minute winner helped the Bears take control of the narrative in the latest installment of the historic Battle of the Brazos.

Entering the match, the Aggies were prepared to put up a fight.

In a press conference on Monday, A&M head coach G Guerrieri noted the similarities between the two sides.

Those similar styles of play nearly resulted in a scoreless deadlock.

The match opened slowly for the Maroon & White, who could not complete more than two passes in unison within the first seven minutes of play. Both teams put out solid defenses, ensuring a scoreless first 45 minutes.

Facing solid pressure from the Bears, the Ags only claimed one shot, one corner kick and four fouls.

Similarly, Baylor tallied four shots, two corner kicks and three fouls.

Neither managed a first-half shot on goal.

Entering play, both A&M and Baylor appeared to be first-half teams this season, with eight of the Ags’ 10 goals scored prior to the half. Five of the Bear’s eight goals had been scored before the break.

Both teams emerged from halftime on the attack, knowing the first goal would likely determine the match’s outcome.

In the 61st minute, freshman goalkeeper Sydney Fuller made A&M’s first save of the night off a shot by sophomore midfielder Theresa McCullough.

Soon after, Baylor graduate midfielder Ashley Merrill received a yellow card, giving A&M senior midfielder Mia Pante the opportunity to take the free kick.

However, Pante’s dead-center shot was quickly diminished by Baylor’s Azul Alvarez in the 68th minute.

It was the Maroon & White’s first, and only, shot on goal of the evening.

With frustration mounting in the 84th, junior midfielder Sydney Becerra took the second yellow card of the match after a shot attempt by Merrill.

A minute later, the Bears took the lead off a shot by junior forward Tyler Isgrig that rocketed to the top left of Fuller’s goal. It was Isrig’s first goal of the year and proved to be the game-winner.

The Maroon & White’s succeeding attempts were of no avail as they left Waco in defeat.

The Ags finished with eight shots, 12 fouls and one shot on goal.

Guerrieri & Co. will host TCU (3-1) at Ellis Field on Thursday. Kickoff 7 p.m. CT.