Texas A&M
UTSA
No. 6 A&M Blanks UTSA, 3-0
Aug 30, 2009 | Soccer
Aug. 30, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Three different Aggies tabbed their first goals of the season as the Texas A&M soccer team blanked UTSA, 3-0, on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the Aggie Soccer Stadium.
Junior Kim Castleberry and Catalina Clavijo each scored en route to A&M's (2-1-0) second win and second shutout of the year. The Roadrunners dropped to 1-3-0 with the loss.
In front of 2,752 fans, the Aggies controlled the majority of the game and produced 44 shots - the third most in program history. The A&M defense held UTSA to just four shots, while junior goalkeepers Kristin Arnold and Kelly Dyer combined for the shutout.
"Today was a little more business-like for us and it's nice to be back on the winning side again," said head coach G Guerrieri. "We're a young team, so every day is a new learning experience. To be able to create and take 44 shots is terrific and it was also nice to see the scoring accounts open up for three new players. All three [goals] were well struck and really well taken."
A&M dominated possession through the first half firing off 22 shots and holding the Roadrunners to just one.
In the 11th minute, a yellow card was issued to UTSA in the Aggies' offensive third and led to a dangerous opportunity. Off of the resulting free kick from sophomore Mary Grace Schmidt and senior Amber Gnatzig got off strong headers that were saved on the line by UTSA defenders.
Nine minutes later, Gnatzig controlled the ball in the center of the field and slid off a pass to Shipley on the right corner of the penalty box. Shipley saw that she had space and rifled a shot into the upper-left 90 to get A&M out to a 1-0 lead.
In a two-minute span following the goal, the Aggies produced two corner kicks and triggered six shots. A right-footed shot by Castleberry skimmed just over the crossbar.
Castleberry stayed persistent and seven minutes into the second half, junior Whitney Hooper sent a through ball to the McKinney, Texas native in the six-yard box. Castleberry finished it to score her first collegiate goal and put the Aggies up 2-0.
A&M continued to push the ball to its attacking third late in the match when sophomore Katie Hamilton battled for and won a ball at the top of the box in the 78th minute. The Spring, Texas, product released a shot that was on frame, but into the arms of the UTSA goalkeeper.
Less than a minute later, a through ball to freshman Nora Skelton resulted in a shot that made the Roadrunner keeper dive to her left to keep the ball from crossing the line.
The Aggies continued their non-stop pressure when Hamilton got her foot behind another shot in the box which was blocked by a UTSA defender, but Clavijo picked up the ball six yards out and skimmed it low-to-the-ground and just wide across the goalmouth.
In the 84th minute, however, a UTSA foul led to a free kick on the left side by Young. The initial ball was knocked out by the UTSA defense, but Clavijo picked it up at the top of the box and one-timed it top shelf to score her first collegiate goal and make the score 3-0 in favor of the Aggies.
Texas A&M takes to the road next weekend for the first of a three-game road swing that begins at California on Friday.
