Texas A&M
Nebraska
Aggies Overpower Nebraska 4-2; Head to Sunday’s Championship
Nov 04, 2005 | Soccer
November 04, 2005
The 10th-ranked Texas A&M soccer team scored one goal in the first period and three in the second to gain a 4-2 victory over fellow Big 12 powerhouse, Nebraska in the semifinal match of the 2005 Big 12 Championships at the Blossom Soccer Complex. With the win the Aggies improve their overall record to 15-3-2 and advance to the Championship match set to start at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. The loss drops Nebraska to 13-7-1.
?This was a typical A&M/Nebraska game,? commented A&M head coach G Guerrieri. ?There was lots of energy and lots of entertainment. The Huskers came out and played their hearts out. I have a lot of respect for the passion they played with. It forced us to match their passion, control the ball and play our style of soccer to get the win.?
With 17:51 remaining in the first period the Aggies built an offensive attack that resulted in Ashlee Pistorius finding Kat Krambeer in the top of the box for the first goal of the game and Krambeer?™s seventh of the season.
Nebraska came back to tie the game one-all, in the 42nd minute of play, on a free kick taken by Brittany Timko from near 35 yards out, amidst the cluster of Aggie defenders and Husker attackers, Jessie Bruch?™s header found the back of the net.
Going into halftime, the score was deadlocked at one. The first 45 minutes of play saw the ball being passed all over the field by both teams. Nebraska took 11 shots to the Aggies?™ eight however only three were on frame while A&M placed four within the posts. NU goalkeeper Jamie Klages had to make three saves to Kati Jo Spisak?™s one.
The Aggies and Huskers came out from halftime with a vengeance competing for possession of the ball and firing off a stream of shots. However it was Texas A&M who managed to score first giving them a 2-1 lead with 30:13 left in the second period.
Madison Klovstad took a shot that ricocheted off the lower right post, Klages came out of the goal and tried to smother the ball but wasn?™t able to stay on top as Krambeer, from the ground inside the box, took another shot that was rebounded towards Pistorius who tucked away her 17th goal of season.
With 8:54 left in the game sophomore Melissa Garey gave A&M their game-winner when she tucked away a shot from the top of the arc just inside the lower right post. The goal served as Garey?™s 16th of the season and was assisted by Amy Berend.
Nebraska was able to come back within one with 4:13 left in regulation as Bruch recorded her second goal of the night, unassisted, from inside the lower left end of the box.
However, just a minute later, Pistorius caught Klages a little too far out of the box and lofted a pass from Jordan Falcusan from 30 yards out on the right side of the field that floated into the back of the net, giving the Aggies a 4-2 lead and moving Pistorius?™ goals scored to 18.
Pistorius was named State Farm Player of the Game with two goals and an assist, keeping her in the league lead with 47 points on the season.
The Aggies will face the winner of the semifinal match being played tonight between Colorado and Texas on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in the Championship match. The game will be televised on a tape-delay basis. Check local listings for viewing in your area.
Tickets for the tournament are $5 per day and can be purchased at the stadium or through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).
As always, those unable to attend the Aggie matches will be able to follow the action through live audio and statistics here on aggieathletics.com.
