Aggies Suffer First Conference Loss at Mizzou

Friday, September 30

Columbia, Mo.

6:30 PM

Texas A&M

8-5-0, 2-1-0

Missouri

9-4-0, 1-2-0

Texas A&M

Missouri

Oct 01, 2011 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The No. 13 Texas A&M soccer team (8-5, 2-1 Big 12) fell to Missouri (9-4, 1-2 Big 12) in a 1-0 heartbreaker Friday at Walton Stadium.

The Aggies led the match in shots (18-16) and shots on goal (11-7), most of which came in the second half, but could not get a ball into the net.

"It's a tough result for us," head coach G Guerrieri said. "We deserved better than the result. Missouri played great. The goal they scored on the counterattack was well-taken. They fought and fought and fought and we've got to be able to finish the chances we create."

The teams went to the locker room tied at 0-0 after a defensive first half where the teams combined for just five shots on frame. The Tigers took seven corner kicks in the first half, but the Aggies never let them near the goal mouth as freshman Meghan Streight used powerful headers to send the ball out of the box and freshman goalkeeper Jordan Day grabbed a ball out of the air.

A&M got its first look at the goal in the seventh minute when freshman Kelley Monogue was fouled in the center of the pitch at 25 yards. Senior Merritt Mathias took the free kick and landed a shot squarely on frame as Mizzou keeper McKenzie Sauerwein made her first save of the match.

The Aggies didn't get their next opportunity until the 22^nd minute when Mathias again struck a shot on frame. Freshman Leigh Edwards worked the ball across to junior Beth West at the top of the 18 yard box. West slotted a pass to Mathias, out wide of the goal on the right. Mathias fired a shot from 12 yards, forcing her second save of the match.

With less than seven minutes left in the half, freshman Annie Kunz planted one last shot on frame. Flanked by defenders, the forward broke toward the goal and sent a laser in. Sauerwein dove to the far side and parried the ball over the end line, creating a corner kick for the Aggies.

In the 45^th minute junior Mary Grace Schmidt took a parting shot, sailing the ball over the goal.

The Aggies returned from halftime with a vicious attack, fighting to create chances at the goal. In the 51^st minute Kunz took a shot from close range that was blocked by a defender. Freshman Katie Perry scrambled for the rebound and glanced the shot back to Kunz who fired again before the second shot was blocked.

Just a minute later Monogue dribbled to the same spot at the left post and slotted a pass to Mathias, who shot but was blocked.

Mathias didn't give up there. Two minutes later the forward fired high and then blasted a second shot in the 52^nd minute that was blocked. Monogue gathered the ball and was also blocked when her shot hit the body of a defender.

In the 64^th minute Missouri broke through the A&M defense and scored the lone goal on a counterattack.

Trailing by just one goal the Aggies added numbers to the attack and continued to press. In the 68^th minute Perry found Mathias along the left flank and led her with a pass. Mathias eluded two defenders and blazed a shot that Sauerwein caught for a save.

With 15 minutes left in the match Mathias again directed the attack, forcing a save on a close opportunity from the left corner of the six yard box. Freshman Bianca Brinson quickly regained possession and slammed a second shot from the same spot that the keeper caught just inside the left post.

"In the last nine minutes, we went ahead and threw everything at them," Guerrieri said. "We created a lot of chances and put them under a lot of pressure and they passed the test. It was a good win for them, and we'll regroup and get ready for Kansas."

A&M continued to work their attacking third, trying every angle with attempts. In the 81^st minute Monogue headed a shot that Sauerwein again grabbed for a save. With just 43 seconds left, Kunz gave one last effort, taking a zinger from six yards that again forced a save as time ran out on the Aggies.

Mathias led the match with four shots on frame, while Monogue, Kunz and Brinson each had two.

The Aggies continue their conference road trip Sunday in Lawrence, Kan., facing the Jayhawks on their home pitch at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on AggieAthletics.com and 95.1-3 The Zone HD, making it available on any smartphone or HD radio. The app can be found at RadioAggieland.com. To learn more about Texas A&M soccer, log on to AggieAthletics.com.