Aggies Drop 2-0 Decision at Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – With four starters out due to injury, the No. 14 Texas A&M Aggies were unable to muster offense in a 2-0 loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores at VU Soccer Complex Friday evening.
 
Texas A&M started the match with five starters out of action, but midfielder Mikaela Harvey started the second half.
 
In the first half, the squads played to a 0-0 draw with Vanderbilt owning edges in shots (5-3) and corner kicks (2-0).
 
Vanderbilt (6-4-0, 2-1-0 SEC) converted on a pair of set pieces in the second half for the difference in the match.
 
In the 49^th minute, the Commodores took a free kick from near the left corner kick arc. The initial offering was knocked around the six-yard box before Grace Jackson was able to skirt it out to Nia Dorsey who scored from seven yards.
 
In the 82^nd minute, Vanderbilt converted on a corner kick. Lydia Simmons served the ball in from the left corner arc. An Aggie defender attempted to clear the ball with a header, but it sailed towards the far post where Jackie Welch headed it home for the 2-0 advantage.
 
Texas A&M (7-3-0, 2-1-0 SEC) had three quality scoring chances in the first half, but were uable to strike gold. In the 15^th minute, Cienna Arrieta had a free kick from 20 yards out that she blasted unabated towards goal, but Vanderbilt goalkeeper Kaitlyn Fahrner was able to make the save.  In the 18^th minute, Haley Pounds charged into the box from the left side and fired a shot from 10 yards out. It got past Fahrner but went wide of the right post by inches. In the 22^nd minute, Arrieta had a shot from 20 yards but sent it over the crossbar.
 
Aggie keeper Danielle Rice made four saves in the match, including two heroic stops in the 35^th minute to keep the match scoreless going into halftime.
 
In the second half, the Aggies' best chance to score came in the 58th minute. Callyn Walton fired a shot from eight yards out that was smothered by Fahrner. In the ensuing scrum, Walton and Harvey were both upended in the box, but to no avail.
 
In the final 15 minutes, the Aggies had a flurry of corner kick opportunities but were unable to convert on the four chances.
 
The Aggies return to action Sunday when the Maroon and White travel to Tuscaloosa for a 6 p.m. match against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
 
 
TEXAS A&M QUOTE
 
Head coach G Guerrieri
On the match...
"Congratulations to Vanderbilt. They looked really good tonight. They finished their two set pieces in similar fashion. I thought they were very good on the night. As for us, we have to lick our wounds, regroup and get ready to play a good Alabama team in Tuscaloosa on Sunday."