Match #7: Texas A&M 4, Stephen F. Austin 0
Records: Texas A&M (4-3-0, 0-0-0), Stephen F. Austin (1-6-0, 0-0-0)
Box Score
The Ags were back with vengeance in black.
A shutout in College Station, Texas A&M (4-3-0, 0-0-0) defeated Stephen F. Austin (1-6-0, 0-0-0) on Sunday, 4-0.
There were four goal scorers on Sunday night, with senior Bella Carapazza earning her first goal as an Aggie.
Ellis Field welcomed 1,408 fans to watch the Aggies end their four-game home stand.
Bobby Shuttleworth said after Thursday’s loss to TCU that his team’s age showed as the Aggies looked nervous and were naive. He did not feel that Sunday night.
“They were a lot more confident on the ball,” the head Aggie man said. “Our movement and our decision making was way more decisive.”
The Aggies dominated possession of the ball and outshot the Ladyjacks 33-2.
Despite the shutout, A&M must still limit the chances given to their opponent and tighten their defense, Shuttleworth said.
SFA’s physicality was shown with 11 fouls — three yellow cards in the 28th, 56th and 65th minutes.
“Don't let our opponent get in our head about anything,” Finley Lacher said. “Just really just put out what we have, with our 100 percent, and give our best effort in each game.”
It was a slow start for the Aggies, scoring just once in the first 45 minutes.
Carapazza, who scored the first-half goal, said her team was too relaxed going into the match.
“No matter who we play, we got to keep our intensity up and know our identity,” the Lipscomb transfer said. “And make these games about us”
Shuttleworth agreed.
“We were taking too many touches, and getting caught on the ball, and then jamming things into central areas,” the first-year head coach said. “Then I think we started to struggle to connect.”
Carapazza scored her first goal as an Aggie in the 17th minute. A corner kick by Lacher allowed the Lipscomb transfer to headbutt the shot and open the scoring to 1-0.
“Honestly, it's so fun just being with people that make you want to score and make you want to do well,” Carapazza said.
After halftime, the Ags came back onto the pitch with a higher tempo, more movement and ability to find spaces.
Freshman Ireland Churchill scored a 51st-minute goal down the middle, doubling the score to 2-0. She now has five goals this season.
A no-look pass from Trinity Buchanan to Brynja Rán Knudson was then played on to a wide-open Lacher in the 59th minute as the freshman made it 3-0.
Not to be left out of the fun, Buchanan —A&M’s leading scorer — added her sixth goal of the season off the crossbar off a free kick in the 64th minute. The wonderful strike tied her career high and brought the score to 4-0.
Junior St. Bonaventure transfer keeper Adelaide Paredes stepped on the pitch for the first time in the 68th minute. Paredes relieved freshman Makenna August and secured her first save of the season in the 84th minute.
Carapazza said Sunday’s game was a good momentum builder for the Aggies before SEC play.
“We're about to play teams that are in the top 25, top 10 in the country,” the Florida native said. “That gave us a really good vision and good things that we need to work on.”
A&M will make its way to Kentucky on Friday, Sept. 11, at 6:30 p.m. to open conference play.
