Buchanan's late PK clinches victory in Shuttleworth's debut

Match #1: Texas A&M 2, Rice 1
Records: Texas A&M (1-0-0, 0-0-0), Rice (0-0-1, 0-0-0)
Box Score

HOUSTON — You’re never penalized for how the win looks.

Even if a late penalty was needed to secure it, a win is a win.

Courtesy of Trinity Buchanan’s 80th-minute PK, Texas A&M escaped Holloway Field with a 2-1 decision over Rice on a heated — in temperatures and physicality — Wednesday evening.

With it, Bobby Shuttleworth claimed the first win of his head coaching career.

“Excited to win,” the debutant said. “It’s a tough game against a good opponent. Obviously, happy with the result, but quite a bit of work to do.”

Even at 1-1 with the clock winding, Lucy Landherr took the second of consecutive corners as the ball fell to Riley Crooks at the back post.

The defender turned away from goal, only to be tripped in the box by Amelie Hoendermis.

After video review confirmed the penalty, Buchanan stepped to the spot and narrowly beat Kirsten Ruf to the bottom left corner.

“Nerves a little bit, but I was excited to capitalize and score that goal and celebrate with my teammates,” the Aggie goal scorer said. “We have a lot to learn, but we’re a really eager team, and we are eager to learn. I think we’ll do a better job next game.”

After leading A&M with five goals in 2025, Buchanan accounted for both of the Maroon markers.

Along with the late PK, she fired a laser from outside the box in the 19th minute to open the scoring.

For most of the first half, it seemed as if Shuttleworth & Co. might squeak out a 1-0 result.

However, freshman keeper Makenna August, who made two saves in the opening 45, came under fire early and often after halftime.

At the break, A&M led in shots, 9-5, but on Rice’s 13th attempt of the night, Lauren Pickup’s header knotted the scoreline at 1-1.

“They were a handful for us,” Shuttleworth said of the Owls. “They were direct and physical and good in duels. There were a lot of moments when we were up for that task and did well in our first and our second balls. Then there were moments where I thought they controlled that, and they controlled a little bit of the game when that happened.

“I think we need to continue to grow in that area and our physicality and our connectedness to be able to win the first and win the second.”

Yet Buchanan’s first brace as an Aggie rescued a night of firsts.

In a match that finished with shots favoring Rice 19-17 and 25 total fouls, A&M improved to 25-7-2 in season-openers.

Long before Shuttleworth improved to 1-0-0, the head coach submitted a lineup that featured first starts for five true freshmen, including forward Ireland Churchill.

“She is really good at scoring goals, at providing options, at possessing,” Buchanan said of Churchill. “She’s a great player, and she definitely showed that today, and she’s a really fun player to work with.”

August, a fellow rookie, tallied seven saves in the winning effort — the first of her collegiate career.

A goalkeeper by trade, Shuttleworth certainly appreciated what he saw from his on Wednesday.

“I thought she did well,” he said. “A couple of big saves, especially the one at the end where she gets down and low to her right, which is not an easy save. Makenna has maturity past what her age is, and I think that shows in her game. She, as well as everyone else, needs to continue to grow.”

Danny Grant, TexAgs

Through one match, Bobby Shuttleworth’s career winning percentage is a perfect 1.000.

Sure, a narrow victory against a group-of-five opponent is far from an emphatic start to the season.

Still, it beats the alternative, and it also highlights areas for improvement ahead of Sunday’s trip to Baylor.

Shuttleworth’s mind is already shifting to what needs work.

“You take the 15 minutes. You enjoy it. You let the team enjoy it,” he said. “Then we’re right away trying to move forward and start looking toward Sunday and a good Baylor team. Gotta get buttoned up on things and get prepared for them.”

Just 15? Probably more like 90 minutes as he embarks on his first happy trip back to Aggieland.