For the first time ever, Texas A&M (2-2-0, 0-0-0) will take on undefeated Air Force (3-0-0, 0-0-0) on the second stop of their four-game homestand at Ellis Field.
The match is set for Thursday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. CT.
Air Force was picked to win the Mountain West in the league’s preseason coaches’ poll.
Both the Aggies and Falcons earned their first shutout of the season in their most recent outings, with A&M blanking Sam Houston at home and Air Force blanking Navy on the road.
The Falcons have an explosive offense that will test A&M’s defensive line, having scored 11 goals in three games.
“I think we’re playing against a good team,” Shuttleworth said. “We're just working on kind of the things that I just said: staying connected with each other and making sure that, you know, we're doing the work to support one another, both in attack and in defense, and then continuing to just be good with the ball and making sure that our technical execution is consistent.”
A&M’s offense made the most of its opportunities on Saturday, scoring a total of five goals against the Bearkats. The goals were great, Shuttleworth said, but he was more impressed by how connected his team looked.
“We went over video yesterday,” Shuttleworth said. “And you could see just in the movement of our group and the way that we all kind of had a plan and were moving together and solving the game.”
Saturday’s win also showed improvements and growth as a team as they continue gaining experience every game, freshman defender Ava Sexton said, and it gave the team a confidence boost.
The Aggies have been lacking consistency throughout their first four games, Shuttleworth said. While the Aggie head man told his team it was a great win, his message was also to shift their focus to Thursday.
“When you win, you’re not that good, and when you lose, you’re not that bad,” Shuttleworth said. “I think there’s been moments where we’ve shown we can be a really good team, and then there’s been moments where we showed we can be a pretty average team.”
It was hard to go into the season with preconceived notions about what the group will look like, especially with 13 new additions to the roster.
However, the Aggies are continuing to gel as they progress.
“I think, as we're seeing, our group is still growing and changing and developing,” Shuttleworth said. “So I think that's gonna continue to happen throughout the year.”
Sexton said the team's willingness to put in the hard work toward the same goal has allowed it to grow.
“There's not one girl that's taking a second off,” Sexton said. “I think just trusting each other is the biggest thing right now.”
The undeniable duo of freshman Ireland Churchill and senior Trinity Buchanan last game resulted in both players earning a brace, so expect them to lead A&M’s offensive charge vs. Air Force.
“We're lucky to have those two at our program,” Shuttleworth said. “And I think you've seen pretty quickly the connection between the two, and they're almost now starting to get a relationship where they know where one another is gonna be at different times.”
“I think [combination play] is really important,” Sexton said. “We've done a really good job with that and so just touching the little things up and just making sure that we're ready to go.”
Tickets for the game can be found on the 12th Man Foundation, or fans can stream the game on the SEC Network+.
