Texas A&M
Colorado
Aggies Win Big 12 Championship in 2OT
Nov 06, 2005 | Soccer
November 06, 2005
On Sunday, 2,563 fans witnessed the 10th-ranked Texas A&M soccer team (16-3-2) win their second consecutive Big 12 Championship at the Blossom Soccer Complex as A&M downed a very tough Colorado squad (12-7-3), 2-1. And for the second time this season Suzzette Devloo provided the Aggies with their game-winner against the Buffaloes.
?Wow! What an exciting finish,? commented A&M head coach G Guerrieri. ?Colorado played a great game. They made us earn everything we got. I am really proud of all our players. I hope we can continue to improve and gain momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament.?
A&M?™s only goal of the first half came when Melissa Garey dribbled through two Colorado defenders, in the 22nd minute, to plant the ball into the left upper corner off a deflected pass from Kat Krambeer. The goal served as Garey?™s 17th goal of the season.
The Aggies played a very physical first half, committing 11 fouls to Colorado?™s five. The shots were even at seven apiece; however the 1-0 advantage was in the Aggies?™ favor at halftime.
The second half started just as physically as the first half ended. However neither team managed to score until Colorado was awarded a free kick, in the 63rd minute, off a foul by Linda Pierson. Laura Munnelly took the kick and Alexis Cousins headed the shot just over the top of a reaching Kati Jo Spisak to even the score at one.
The game remained tied at one thru the rest of regulation and the first over-time. Colorado and A&M switched possession of the ball throughout the midfield. The Aggies did manage six more shots than the Buffaloes in the second period, outshooting CU 18-12 in the first 90 minutes of play.
However it was the first 38 seconds of the second overtime that determined the outcome of the game. Laura Probst dribbled down the left sideline cutting towards the goal and sent a pass into Devloo who was waiting in the top of the box to clinch the win and another trophy for the Aggies with a shot off her left foot.
Laura Probst was named State Farm Player of the Game, recording the game-winning assist and being a valuable asset to the Aggies?™ attack.
Selected to the 2005 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team from Texas A&M were Spisak as goalkeeper, Linda Pierson and Paige Carmichael for defender, Krambeer for midfielder and Pistorius for forward. Carmichael was also named the Defensive Most Valuable Player and Pistorius earned the award for Offensive Most Valuable Player.
The winner of the Big 12 Championships receives an automatic bid to the 2005 NCAA Soccer Tournament. Hosts sites for the first round will be announced on Monday at 4:00 p.m. on ESPN News.
The Championship match will be televised on a tape-delay basis. Check local listings for viewing in your area.
2005 Big 12 All-Tournament Team
Goalkeeper
Dianna Pfenninger, Texas
Kati Jo Spisak, Texas A&M
Defender
Kasey Moore, Texas
Darci Smerchek, Colorado
Linda Pierson, Texas A&M
Paige Carmichael, Texas A&M
Midfielder
Jessie Bruch, Nebraska
Kat Krambeer, Texas A&M
Kathryn Grandinetti, Colorado
Forward
Brittany Timko, Nebraska
Katie Griffin, Colorado
Ashlee Pistorius, Texas A&M
Defensive MVP Paige Carmichael
Offensive MVP Ashlee Pistorius
