Monogue Strikes Again as Aggies Blank OU

Friday, October 21

College Station

6:30 PM

Texas A&M

12-5, 5-1Big 12

Oklahoma

6-11, 1-5Big 12

Oklahoma

Texas A&M

Oct 21, 2011 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Freshman Kelley Monogue scored a pair of goals and contributed an assist as the Texas A&M soccer team shut out Oklahoma, 3-0, on Senior Night, Friday at Ellis Field.

The Aggies have won nine of the last 10 games, including four straight, and improve to 12-5 on the season with a 5-1 conference mark. The Sooners drop to 6-11 overall and 1-5 in the Big 12 in 2011.

"Everyone's been talking to us all week about the Oklahoma State game on Sunday, and we've had a hard time with Oklahoma in the past few times we've played them," head coach G Guerrieri said. "We knew that we couldn't look past [the Sooners] and I thought that we came out and really played well early in the game and took care of business. Now we can start thinking about Oklahoma State."

Monogue, who led the conference in nearly every offensive category entering tonight's match, now owns an impressive 38 points on the season with 15 goals and eight assists.

The Aggies controlled the ball from the get-go and Monogue wasted no time on the attack. In the eighth minute, the freshman nutmegged an Oklahoma defender before placing a hard shot on goal.

A free kick by freshman Meghan Streight at the top of the attacking third forced a second save by OU goalkeeper Kelsey Devonshire with 35:21 left in the half.

The vigor of the A&M offense paid off just two minutes later when junior Beth West drew a foul early in the 12^th minute. Senior Merritt Mathias took the free kick from wide of the 18 yard box, looping a pass in to Monogue near the left post. Monogue charged the goal and headed the ball into the back of the net.

The Aggies continued to control the rate of play with a constant attack. A shot by West at 18 yards from the goal in the 16^th minute was half-an-inch high of the crossbar, nearly grazing the woodwork as it flew by. Monogue blasted another close shot in the 21^st minute, searing just wide of the far post.

In the 27^th minute, freshman Annie Kunz blazed a shot that Devonshire punched out before freshman Katie Perry one-touched the rebound to force a second save. Streight rocketed a shot that went just high of the goal with eight minutes to go in the half and the Aggies went to the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

"We were all over them in the first half," Guerrieri said. "We took 18 shots in the first half. I thought their goalkeeper played just fantastic. Thirteen saves - that's a season of saves. She was outstanding on crosses, she even saved a penalty kick. When you run into a hot goalkeeper like that, it's going to take some good goals."

The 15-minute break recharged the A&M attack and Kunz scored on the first shot of the half, taken at the 46 minute mark. Monogue sent the ball in to Kunz from the midfield and the forward nailed a blast from 18 yards for the 2-0 lead.

"Annie's goal in the first minute of the second half was exactly at the right time," Guerrieri said. "I couldn't have picked that one any better."

Mathias placed a shot on frame in the 51^st minute before a scramble in the box led to a foul on West. West took the penalty kick, but Devonshire again dove to grab the ball for a save.

In the 56^th minute, Monogue struck again. The unassisted goal was fired at 20 yards from the goal, never arcing as it sunk into the back of the net. Monogue took six shots on the match, placing five on frame.

The Aggies maintained the 3-0 lead through the end of the match, rarely allowing the Sooners to complete a pass in their offensive half.

Freshman A&M keeper Jordan Day made six saves in the shutout, while the Aggie defense allowed only 12 shots by Oklahoma, compared to 29 taken by the Aggies. This was the sixth shutout by A&M this season, including the third in Big 12 play. Devonshire was forced to make 13 saves on the match.

"Jordan did a good job coming out on high balls to cover the space behind the backline," Guerrieri said. "She came out and got a couple of balls out of the corner of the box. The rest of them were cleaned up and blocked by the backline. This backline has done an outstanding job in the last nine games."

On Sunday the Aggies (12-5, 5-1 Big 12) will host second-ranked Big 12 leader Oklahoma State (16-0-1, 5-0-1 Big 12) on ESPNU. The match is set for a 3 p.m. kickoff at Ellis Field. All Texas A&M students will receive FREE admission to the match with proof of TAMU ID. As is usual for Sunday matches, up to four kids will get in FREE with the purchase of one adult ticket.

Fans wishing to listen to the match can hear the live broadcast on AggieAthletics.com or 95.1-3 The Zone HD, making it available worldwide on any smartphone or HD radio. Visit RadioAggieland.com to download the app. To learn more about Texas A&M soccer, log on to AggieAthletics.com.