Texas A&M
Iowa State
Aggies Improve to 2-0 in Big 12 with Win Over ISU
Sep 23, 2011 | Soccer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Freshman Kelley Monogue had an outstanding night as the 17th-ranked Texas A&M soccer team (7-4-0, 2-0 Big 12) outscored Iowa State (6-4-1, 0-1) 3-1 on Friday at Ellis Field.
Monogue had a part in each of the Aggies' goals, netting two and assisting a third. The forward's first goal of the night came early in the first period and gave A&M a 1-0 lead that the team held through halftime. Just over six minutes into the half, junior Beth West took the ball at midfield and slotted a pass to junior Lyndsey Gnatzig, wide on the left flank. Gnatzig pressed in and chipped a pass to Monogue in the six-yard box. Monogue one-timed the ball with a header into the upper right netting.
After taking the early lead, the Aggies were unable to maintain control of the ball. The Cyclones posted a 10-to-7 first-half shot advantage but placed less than half on frame as the A&M backline held its own through the half.
I thought Iowa State played great," head coach G Guerrieri said. "That's the best we've seen them in a long time, credit to them. They came out and they fought harder than we did in the first half. We had to solve a couple of problems at halftime."
The Aggies returned from the 15-minute break with determination and turned the game around, containing the ball and making clean passes in their offensive half. The work paid off in the 50th minute when junior Nora Skelton scored for a 2-0 A&M lead.
"I thought in the second half it was a different type of game," Guerrieri said. "Our midfield did a good job. Our backline was a little less frantic. We missed a couple of sitters and their goalkeeper made a couple great saves, but I thought all-in-all ISU did a super job."
Monogue took possession of the ball near midfield and dribbled down through defenders. From the top of the 18-yard box, Monogue sailed a pass to Skelton who was poised near the left post. The ball landed squarely on Skelton's head as the forward headed the ball into the back of the net.
As the Aggies continued to build momentum and elude a physical Iowa State defense, they kept a tight rein on the ball.
Just seven minutes later Monogue scored her second goal of the evening as A&M took a solid lead. West zigzagged in from the top of the attacking third and blasted a shot that was blocked by a defender. Monogue took a touch and turned toward the goal redirecting the deflection inside the left post.
With the Aggies ahead 3-0, the game moved into the Cyclones' attacking third in the 61st minute. Iowa State forward Brittany Morgan charged from the left and fired from eight yards. Day caught the shot but the ball popped out of her hands and rolled into the back of the net as the Cyclones scored their only goal of the match.
In the final 25 minutes, the Aggies looked determined, keeping the ball directed toward their goal and overtaking ISU with 22 shots in the end of the match, eight on target. The Cyclones were held to 17, with seven on frame.
With 23 minutes remaining, freshman Annie Kunz collected a pass from West and blazed a shot just over the crossbar. Not a minute later, the forward fired another shot over the woodwork.
Senior Merritt Mathias followed suit two minutes later, lifting a close shot over the goal. The Aggies regained possession off of the goal kick and in the 71st minute freshman Allie Bailey weaved past three defenders and struck a laser that was blocked by the Cyclones. Seven minutes later Bailey slammed another shot that forced ISU goalkeeper Maddie Jobe to make a save.
The Aggies would not stop. Less than five minutes after her eligibility became official, junior transfer Lindsey Witz subbed into the match and immediately took a shot that looked like it would be the first goal of her career as an Aggie. The 5-2 forward, who transferred from Cal State San Bernardino, rocketed a blast that Jobe jumped to parry over the crossbar as Witz earned her first shot-on-goal in Maroon and White and the Aggies set up for their sixth and final corner kick of the match.
With less than two minutes left freshman Meghan Streight, who had left the match in the first period with a bloody nose and returned as a starter at the half, took a free kick at 23 yards that flew in toward the bottom of the left post as Jobe gathered the save.
With the victory the Aggies move to a perfect 2-0 in Big 12 play, handing the Cyclones a loss in their first conference match of the season.
Sunday the Aggies will host Loyola-Chicago in a 1:30 p.m. match at Ellis Field on Scholars Day. A&M student-members of any honors organization will receive FREE admission to the match by wearing their organization t-shirts. Fans who show their Oklahoma State football tickets will pay only $3 for a general admission tickets, and up to four kids will get in FREE with the purchase of one adult ticket.
