Aggies Beat Tech with 2-0 Shutout

Friday, October 7

Lubbock, Texas

7:00 PM

Texas A&M

10-5, 4-1

Texas Tech

8-4-2, 2-1-1

Texas A&M

TTU

Oct 08, 2011 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

LUBBOCK, Texas - Freshman Kelley Monogue netted both goals as the Texas A&M soccer team (10-5, 4-1 Big 12) blanked Texas Tech (8-4-2, 2-1-1 Big 12), 2-0, on Friday in front of a record crowd of 2,176 at the John Walker Soccer Complex.

The Aggies' first goal of the match was the first goal the Red Raiders had allowed in 717 minutes of play. Texas Tech had not given up a goal in over seven games, dating back to Sept. 7, while the team has posted 10 shutouts in their 13 games this season.

"I thought it was a good win for us," head coach G Guerrieri said," For us to come up here and win against a Tech team that was the best Texas Tech team I've ever seen and get a 2-0 win was really good. I thought that our team, as young as they are, played with a lot of poise in the way that they were able to keep possession of the ball and play in spaces that we wanted to play in."

Monogue now leads the team and the Big 12 with 11 goals on the season. The freshman forward took four shots on the match, while freshman Annie Kunz also fired four times, placing one shot on frame and garnering an assist. Freshman Jordan Day spent 90 minutes in goal, never allowing a shot past her, while the Aggie defense never gave the Red Raiders to place a shot on frame.

The Aggies kept the ball in their offensive half for much of the first period, fighting a tenacious Texas Tech defense to maintain control.

A&M posted a 4-2 corner kick advantage in the first half, with the first coming in the eighth minute. Strong gusts blew senior Merritt Mathias' ball into the side netting.

In the 13^th minute freshman Kelley Monogue fired from the top of the 18 yard box. The ball flew just a few inches wide of the near post for the Aggies' first shot of the game.

The Aggies continued to work the ball in their attacking half, completing passes and controlling the rate of play. In the 29^th minute junior Beth West slotted a pass to senior Rachael Balaguer. Balaguer sent a cross in to Monogue in the box. Monogue blazed a shot that went wide of the near post.

Just a minute later Kunz's shot was blocked, but the ball went over the end line and created a second corner kick for the Aggies. A third corner followed in the 40^th minute.

With 2:20 left in the first period, junior Lyndsey Gnatzig looped a ball in to Kunz from 25 yards. Kunz headed the ball from the six yard box but the shot flew wide.

Senior Merritt Mathias made a final offensive attempt in the 44^th minute. The midfielder passed to junior Chelsea Jones, who one-timed it back to Mathias. Mathias fired from 18 yards, sending the ball wide.

The Aggies returned from the half with determination, fighting against the wind and a Tech defense that would not let up.

Just 1:05 into the second period the Aggies' never-say-die attitude paid off. Senior Megan Majewski gained control of the ball at midfield and sent a pass in to junior Lyndsey Gnatzig wide, who crossed a pass from the left side of the pitch to Monogue, waiting in the six yard box. The forward headed the ball into the back of the net and gave the Aggies a 1-0 lead.

A swarming Aggie defense kept the Red Raiders away from the goal, never allowing a shot on frame throughout the match, while Day patrolled the area well to nullify chances by Tech.

"To be able to come in and score two against Tech, who has had so many shutouts this season is a good indicator of the way that we can play, especially on the road," Guerrieri said. "Winning on the road in this conference is a key to being able to lift trophies at the end of the season.

"I thought that Jordan and the defense were outstanding. For our backs to not allow one shot on goal, I can tell you as a former goalkeeper, that's the kind of game you like to see in front of you. Jordan did a good job with her leadership. She did a good job of coming and getting a couple of crosses, and really [Rachel] Lenz, Balaguer, Gnatzig and obviously Meghan Streight played great."

With 8:30 left in the match Kunz headed a laser at the goal that Texas Tech goalkeeper Victoria Esson was forced to parry over the cross bar.

In the 93^rd minute, senior Bri Young sent a free kick from the edge of the circle in to Monogue, who was approaching the goal from the left along the end line. Monogue overlapped and, after a give-and-go with freshman Leigh Edwards, flicked a shot from 12 yards that went high.

Monogue had a second chance three minutes later when Kunz sent a pass into the 18 yard box. Monogue turned with the ball, faked a shot, and nailed a blast, pushing A&M out to a 2-0 lead.

"Not only is Kelley a great player, in her ability to bring people around her to join in and to make dangerous, but she's quick, she's a real poacher around the goal," Guerrieri said. "She scored two [goals], and really almost scored two others that were just a hair wide."

The Red Raiders couldn't respond to the high pressure of the Aggie offense, and A&M improved to 4-1 in conference play with the 2-0 shutout. Texas Tech suffered its first conference loss of the season.

The Aggies return to College Station next weekend for a single match against Drake on Friday night. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Ellis Field. The broadcast can be found on AggieAthletics.com. To learn more about Texas A&M soccer, log on to AggieAthletics.com.