March 09, 2006
The defending Big 12 Conference soccer champion Texas A&M Aggies beat the United States Under 20 National Team 2-1 Thursday night in an exciting exhibition match at the Aggie Soccer Stadium.
Junior midfielder Elisabeth Jones (transfer from the University of Kentucky) scored the game-winner in her debut for the Aggies, hammering home a rebounded shot in the game?â„¢s 68th minute.
The USA U-20 National Team is in College Station this week preparing for the Under 20 World Championship Tournament, being held in Russia this coming August. As part of their training camp, they are playing four games vs. top college teams. The first opponent up for the USA was the host institution for the event, Texas A&M.
Both teams mounted several great scoring chances in the game?â„¢s first 45 minutes. One of the best chances included an blast from A&M midfielder Laura Grace Robinson, who?â„¢s 25-yard shot caromed off the cross bar. A few minutes later, A&M was awarded a free kick, just outside the right corner of the USA penalty area. Linda Pierson stepped up and swerved a bending free kick over the USA?â„¢s wall of defenders which hit the near post and bounced out of play.
The Aggies jumped on the scoreboard first, in the game?â„¢s 28th minute, when Allison Martino controlled a bouncing ball on the Aggies?â„¢ left flank and unleashed a left-footed rocket of a shot from 30 yards away which beat the Americans?â„¢ goalkeeper to the far upper corner of the goal. The Aggies went into the locker-room at halftime with a 1-0 lead.
The second half of play began with the USA controlling the early play due to key halftime substitutions from American head coach Tim Schultz.
?It took our players a few minutes in the early portion of the second half to re-establish our playing rhythm,? commented Aggie head coach G Guerrieri. ?They did a great job of causing us some match-up challenges, but I was proud of our players?â„¢ ability to solve the problems and turn the tide back into our favor.?
Texas A&M extended their lead in the 68th minute when sophomore forward Ashlee Pistorius ran at the American?â„¢s defensive line and slotted a through ball to a streaking Melissa Garey, who took the ball to goal, hitting a low driven shot at the USA goal, which the goalkeeper deflected. But, before the goalkeeper and the American defense could react to the deflected shot, A&M?â„¢s Jones pounced on the loose ball and blasted it into the open net, putting A&M up 2-0.
?I?â„¢m really pleased for EJ (Jones),? said Guerrieri. ?She?â„¢s a really talented player who sat out this past fall after transferring in from Kentucky, and has had to wait until tonight to get her first game, due to an injury. But, what a way to make an impact in your Aggie debut? She?â„¢s a terrific young lady and I?â„¢m really happy for her.?
Down 0-2, the USA took immediate initiative to get back into the game. Just a minute after Jones?â„¢ goal, American midfielder Tina DiMartino (sophomore at UCLA) collected a ball in the corner of the field, beat an Aggie defender, then crushed a high, dipping shot past A&M goalkeeper Nicki Bennigfield, to bring the USA back within a goal of the Aggies.
Both teams had opportunities to score again. In the 70th minute, USA keeper, Diane Pfenninger (freshman at Texas) made a huge save on another point blank shot by Jones to keep the score close. Then, with just two minutes remaining in the game, it looked as if the Americans might equalize, but Lauren Cheney?â„¢s shot hit the angle of the goal where the crossbar and the near post meet, and caromed away from goal. The Aggies then regained possession of the ball and finished off the remaining minutes of play to seal the victory.
For A&M, this brings their spring exhibition record to 5-0. The Aggie players will now take a week off of classes and soccer as they enjoy their annual spring break holiday. Meanwhile, the Americans will continue their training camp and games.
"I'm sure the USA coaches will use this game as a great teaching tool," Guerrieri said. "I believe they have a real chance at winning the World Championship."
On Friday at 5:00 p.m., the USA will play Marquette University. On Saturday at 10: 00 a.m. they will play Brigham Young University, and then on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. they face-off against Vanderbilt University.
All games will be held at the site of the 2005 NCAA National Championship game, the Aggie Soccer Stadium. Admission is free to the public for all games.