Texas A&M
Oklahoma
Aggies Fall to Oklahoma, 3-2
Sep 27, 2009 | Soccer
Sept. 27, 2009
NORMAN, Okla. - Despite two goals by sophomore Katie Hamilton, the No. 10 Texas A&M soccer team fell to Oklahoma, 3-2, on a sunny Sunday afternoon at John Crain Field.
In her first career start, Hamilton (Spring, Texas) netted a goal each half, and the Aggies (6-4-0, 1-1 Big 12) fired off 32 shots, but the Sooners (6-4-1, 1-1 Big 12) converted three of nine shots to knock off A&M for the first time in program history.
"It's really disappointing, because we put ourselves in position to score so many times, but it just comes down to execution," said head coach G Guerrieri. "We got 32 shots and could only put 11 on target. A lot of those 11 we were too far out, so we weren't dangerous enough. Then in the second half we were inside their penalty area the entire half, but we've got to be able to finish. It's really frustrating because this is the result you get when there's not that sense of urgency to put things away."
The Aggies took the first three shots of the match and put them all on frame from outside the penalty box, but OU goalkeeper Kelsey Devonshire scooped up all three strikes.
Moments later and two minutes apart, Oklahoma's Whitney Palmer received two long passes and scored two quick goals on breakaways to give the Sooners a 2-0 lead.
Hamilton cut the margin in half in the 14th minute. An OU defender was attempting to clear the ball, but the sophomore forward put pressure on her and gained possession before the defender tripped, leaving an open shot that Hamilton buried in the right-side netting for her second goal of the season.
A free kick from Mary Grace Schmidt in the six-yard box, before junior Nicole Ketchum finished the ball in the back of the net at the left post. Unfortunately, a foul was called on the initial 50-50 ball with Schmidt and the goal was called back leaving the score, 2-1.
Two-and-a-half minutes before the half, A&M had another great opportunity. A free kick by Young was headed on by Schmidt, who was just wide of the goal at the end line. Freshman Christina Navalta picked up the ball and immediately sent a cross that junior Alyssa Mautz headed just high of the goal.
The Aggies outshot the Sooners, 14-4, but the scored remained 2-1 as the two teams went into the locker room for the 15-minute halftime break.
A&M possessed the ball in its attacking third much of the second period and earned its fourth of five corner kicks in the 53rd minute. The kick by junior Rachel Shipley was headed across the goal to freshman Nora Skelton who settled the ball at her feet and struck a shot just beyond the far corner of the goal.
Despite several missed opportunities, Hamilton struck again and evened the score, 2-2, in the 55th minute. Devonshire tried to clear the ball but Ketchum headed the low-driving strike back into the box, where Hamilton held off a defender and got to the ball first to fire off a shot into the right-side netting and above the outstretched arms of Devonshire.
Six minutes later, Oklahoma was awarded a free kick and sent a long strike that was deflected by A&M in the air towards the goal before Kelsey Kraft headed the ball down and inside the left post, past a diving Kristin Arnold, to return OU to a one-goal lead.
The Aggies kept the pressure on, taking 13 of their 18 second-half shots in the last twenty-five minutes, but could not find the back of the net for the equalizer.
"Oklahoma really worked hard and battled and scratched, and was able to hang on," Guerrrieri said. "We have to be able to regroup and get ready for a really good Kansas group on Friday."
Texas A&M return to the Aggie Soccer Stadium on Friday to play its first Big 12 match at home against Kansas.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
