Soccer Falls to FSU in Elite Eight

Friday, November 27

Tallahassee, Fla.

1:00 PM

Texas A&M

17-7-2

Florida State

18-2-4

Texas A&M

Florida State

Nov 27, 2015 | Soccer

Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – The No. 21 Texas A&M Aggies had their season come to an end Friday with a 5-0 loss to No. 2 Florida State in NCAA Championship quarterfinal action at the Seminole Soccer Complex.

Playing in their 21st consecutive NCAA Championship tournament, the Aggies' youthful starting squad Friday featured only one player who started last season's College Cup semifinal match against Virginia.

The Aggies ended the season with a 17-7-2 mark on the year. The Maroon and White extended their streak of 15-win seasons to 12 years, the lengthiest active NCAA Division I streak, and made an appearance in their sixth NCAA Championship quarterfinal.

Florida State drew first blood in the 19th minute. Megan Connolly scored her ninth goal of the season, striking a ball from 20 yards to the left of Aggie netminder Danielle Rice. Cheyna Williams and Natalia Kuikka were credited with assists on the goal.

The Seminoles tacked on a goal in the 34th minute. Michaela Hahn went left of Rice from 15 yards, finishing off a pass into the box from Kaycie Tillman.

Florida State (18-2-4) took a 2-0 lead into the intermission. The Seminoles owned the edge in shots (10-1) and took the only corner kick in the first half.

The Seminoles tacked on three goals in the second half with Williams scoring in the 52nd minute and Elin Jensen notching goals in the 69th and 75th minutes.

All of the Aggies' shots were taken by freshmen with Emily Bates, Brittany Crabtree and Kate Hajdu all uncorking shots.

Texas A&M's senior class of Janae Cousineau, Kristi Leonard and Karlie Mueller ended their careers with a record of 76-20-7, setting the school record for victories.

TEXAS A&M QUOTES

Head Coach G Guerrieri
On the match…
"The better team won today. They (Florida State) went about their business in a professional manner and had a bit too much for us to handle on this day. They're one of the more patient and tactically gifted teams that we've come across in many years of NCAA tournament play, so today I simply tip my hat to and say that we wish them all the best as they go forward try to repeat as National Champions."

On the team…
For us, it was a heck of a run, and a season to be proud of. This is a young team that, I don't think people gave much credit to, and maybe didn't expect us to get far in this championship tournament. I think the run we made to get to the Elite Eight was one of the most challenging we've ever faced and they weren't fazed. For most of the year, we were a team that was young and unafraid. For much of the game today, I thought that we played afraid."

On moving on from here…
"We have a lot of returning talent that has all offseason to reflect on the ways they have to improve if they want to get to the College Cup. Florida State is the measuring stick for them now. We open the next season in August at Ellis Field against Florida State, so this will be the challenge for us to contemplate moving forward – something tangible we can put on the calendar and mark our progress with."