Aggies Deal Mississippi State a 3-0 Loss

Sunday, October 19

Starkville, Miss.

1:00 PM

Texas A&M

13-2-1 (7-1-0SEC)

Mississippi State

3-12-0 (0-8-0SEC)

Texas A&M

Mississippi State

Oct 19, 2014 | Soccer

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

STARKVILLE, Mississippi – Texas A&M's 3-0 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Sunday happened in Starkville, but the result won't stay in Starkville as it kept the Aggies in first place in the SEC standings heading into the last three matches of the regular-season.

The Aggies improved to 13-2-1 on the season and sit at 21 points in SEC play with a 7-1-0 record. Florida has a chance to rejoin A&M atop the league ledger with a 6-1-0 entering a Sunday late afternoon match against Kentucky.

Before you could count to '180 Mississippi', the Aggies got on the scoreboard. Leigh Edwards gathered the ball in the middle third of the pitch and worked down the left flank. Edwards got around the outside defender and worked her way into the penalty area, sending a cross to Bianca Brinson near the PK spot. Brinson drove a right-footed shot to the left of the keeper for the 1-0 lead 2:56 into the match.

Kelley Monogue upped the ante to 2-0 in the 20th minute. Annie Kunz controlled the ball near the top of the penalty box after receiving a pass from Monogue and sent a ball back to Monogue sitting 30 yards from goal. Monogue took one step and sent a missile into the back of the net for her 10^th goal of the season and the 45th of her career.

For the fourth straight match, the Aggie scoring roulette wheel landed on Maroon 11 as Janae Cousineau put the biscuit in the basket in the 33rd minute. On a free kick opportunity, Karlie Mueller served up a golden nugget from the right side of the penalty box finding the head of Shea Groom. Groom's shot hit the left post and caromed back to Cousineau who poked the ball into goal for the 3-0 lead.

Texas A&M's chip stack was much bigger than Mississippi State in the first half, with advantages in shots (14-4) and shots-on-goal (8-1).

The Aggies kept putting coins in the slot machine in the second half, but didn't hit the jackpot. A&M peppered 12 shots in the second half, including three shots-on-goal.

In goal, the Aggies' sent two dealers to bust the Bulldogs. Renée McDermott made one save in the first half and Jordan Day made one save in the second half as A&M logged its fifth shutout of the season.

The Maroon and White backline which featured Meghan Streight, Ashlynn Harryman, Mueller, Edwards and Grace Wright made Mississippi State offensive efforts disappear like one of Siegfried and Roy's tigers, limiting the Bulldogs to just seven shots for the match, including just two shots-on-goal.

Rhylee DeCrane made six saves and Bulldogs' backline cleared two balls off the goal line to limit the damage.

Texas A&M returns to action on Sunday as the Aggies travel to Fayetteville for a 7 pm contest against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

TEXAS A&M QUOTES

Head Coach G Guerrieri

On the game…
"It was a good business-like afternoon for us. We had a good all-around effort in possessing the ball and moving it around and limiting any chances for Mississippi State. Offensively, we had three quality goals.

On Bianca Brinson's goal…
"When Leigh Edwards gets around the end and into the penalty box it's always dangerous. And B.B. had a great finish. It showed we were ready to play from the get-go.”

On Kelley Monogue's goal…
"Kelley's goal was world class. A highlight-reel goal. The combination play by Annie (Kunz) and Kelley outside of the penalty area was beautiful. And as always, Kelley showed she is dangerous from anywhere in the attacking third.”

On Janae Cousineau's goal…

"It's great to see Janae score in four straight games and they have all been in similar fashion. She is a dangerous threat in the scoring area and lately she's been finding the ball.”