Texas A&M
Rice
A&M Soccer Downs Rice, 2-1
Sep 21, 2008 | Soccer
Sept. 21, 2008
HOUSTON, Texas - Texas A&M freshman Jennifer Kmezich scored twice to lead the No. 8 Aggies past Rice, 2-1, on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Houston, Texas.
Kmezich scored in the 25th minute after a free kick and netted the game-winning goal with nine minutes remaining in the match to help A&M soccer move to 7-1-0. The Owls fell to 4-3-0.
"Rice is the kind of team we expect to see in the NCAA Tournament each year and this was a tough win," said head coach G Guerrieri. "Their coaches worked thoroughly in preparation and came with a good game plan. It took some great individual efforts for us to get into some dangerous situations."
One of several scoring opportunities for A&M came in the 14th minute as freshman Rachael Balaguer slide tackled and won the ball from a Rice player along the right flank. Sophomore Rachel Shipley then received the ball at centerfield and passed to sophomore Whitney Hooper in the penalty area. The Houston, Texas, product turned and laced a shot low and to the far corner that an outstretched Rice keeper gathered.
The Aggies' offense continued and in the 25th minute, Hooper was streaking down the field and was fouled just outside the penalty box. Shipley took the free kick and her blast was blocked by an Owl defender, but the ball remained loose in the middle of the box. Kmezich collected and fired a shot into the back of the netting from the left side to put A&M on the scoreboard first.
In another offensive attack with one minute remaining in the first period, junior Amber Gnatzig challenged and won the ball at the midfield before she passed to sophomore Alyssa Mautz at the top of the box. The O'Fallon, Mo., native beat her defender and laced a shot that Rice keeper Meghan Erkel deflected over the back of the goal to keep the score 1-0 at the half.
Four minutes into the second period, Rice earned a corner kick that was taken by Hope Ward. The freshman lobbed a pass into the box that Kate Edwards headed into the back of the net to tie the game, 1-1.
It was not until nine minutes remained in the game that Balaguer controlled the ball on the right side and sent a ball into the penalty area that Hooper touched to Kmezich just outside the box. The Larkspur, Colo., native then rocketed a shot right of the Rice keeper and into the back of the netting to put the Aggies on top, 2-1.
A&M outshot the Owls 17-5 in the contest and earned eight corner kicks to Rice's three. Eight of the Aggies shots were on frame. Sophomore Kelly Dyer picked up her fifth win in goal recording six saves.
The Aggies' next match is against the 7th-ranked Texas Longhorns in Austin on Friday. The game is slated for 7 p.m.
