Aggies' Season Draws to a Close on Penalty Kicks

Friday, November 17

College Station

7:30 p.m.

Texas A&M

18-2-2

Notre Dame

10-6-5

OT 7

OT 8

OT 9

Notre Dame

Texas A&M

Photo by: Augusta Thomason/Texas A&M Athletics

Nov 17, 2017 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score - ND 2, A&M 2 - ND Pks, 4-1

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 6 Texas A&M Aggies had their 2017 campaign come to an end Friday in NCAA Championship second round play. Texas A&M and Notre Dame played to a 2-2 draw through 110 minutes and the Fighting Irish prevailed in the penalty kick shootout, 4-1.

In the shootout, Notre Dame got successful PKS from Natalie Jacobs, Taylor Klawunder, Jennifer Westendorf and Ginny McGowan. For Texas A&M, Ally Watt made the first attempt, but Emily Bates and Brittany Crabtree both had their shots stonewalled by Fighting Irish goalkeeper Lexi Nicholas.

The draw ended Texas A&M's school-record 14-match win streak. It also ended the Aggies' 11-match win streak in NCAA Championship home matches. The Maroon & White finished with an 18-2-2 mark and won the SEC Tournament Championship for their 17^th league title.

The Aggies scored the icebreaker in the 37^th minute. With both squads battling on an even keel, Mikaela Harvey broke through with a 30-yard missile from the right channel to the left side-netting.

Notre Dame tied the match in the 43^rd minute. Sabrina Flores stripped the ball from an Aggie defender on the right side of the penalty box and sent a cross to Eva Hurm who punched her first touch under the crossbar for her first goal of the season.

The Fighting Irish had the halftime edge in shots (12-6) and shots-on-goal (5-4), but the Aggies held a 4-1 edge in corner kicks.

Notre Dame took their first lead of the game in the 83^rd minute. A Fighting Irish forward may have been fouled in the box and Natalie Jacobs stepped up to take the penalty kick.

Emily Bates came up with late match heroics again for the Aggies, tying the match in the 88^th minute. Addie McCain dumped a ball into the penalty box and Bates got onto the end of the service, putting in a shot from the right corner of the six-yard box, past the keeper on the right.

For the match, Texas A&M owned the edge in corner kicks (9-2) while Notre Dame held the advantage in shots (24-17) and shots-on-goal (10-6).

Notre Dame and Baylor will face off in Sunday's NCAA Championship third round match at 6:00 p.m. at Ellis Field.

TEXAS A&M QUOTES

Head Coach G Guerrieri
Opening Statement...
"That's two years in a row now losing in PKs to a fine team, a well-versed team that played well. For them to jump on us with their first goal, which was a mistake on us. For that girl to get as much on it as she did to draw the penalty kick was good on their part. I thought we created some good chances, had some good looks. We didn't get a couple handballs called for us that is just part of soccer, just the way it goes. I'm proud of our players and the grit of our team to come from behind. Emily Bates got the tying goal and it was the typical way this team has gone about things all season. They don't let the things happen. They take every opportunity they can to get as much out of the event as they can. These two next to me (Watt and Richie) were outstanding in causing a lot of trouble for the Notre Dame defense. You have to give their defense a lot of credit for being able to hold them off. They took four great penalties in the shootout to move on. We wish them well on Sunday against Baylor."

On the PKs...
"We worked on them every day for the past seven weeks. It's a little uncommon for us to not bury them. You have to give their goalie a lot of credit. She was quick and she did a great job making saves. She did the same thing on a couple of those corners that i was sure were going in. She did a great job in keeping them out."

Sophomore Forward Ally Watt
On adjustments...
"After the first half, Coach Phil and Coach G. talked to me telling me I needed to play more to my strengths, instead of just passing back to feet. I was taking what the coaches told me to do and I felt like I was being more dangerous in that way. They just had to remind me of the type of player I was. It was me finding out what I had to do to help the team win."

Junior Defender Kendall Ritchie
On the Notre Dame threat...
"They have a very talented front line and a very talented midfield. We knew that going into this game that we were going to have to pay special attention to their runners. They had a tendency to do a behind-the-slot ball. They are very dangerous and very tricky and we knew that going in so we just tried to hold the ball as best we could. All credit to Notre Dame, they have a really great offense. I think they will do great going for it.

NOTRE DAME QUOTES

Notre Dame Head Coach Theresa Romagnolo
On the game…
"It was an incredible game. I think we gave the fans a great show. It was back and forth and I thought we created some really great opportunities over the course of the game. I was proud of the effort we showed on both sides of the ball. We brought great quality. These two {Natalie Jacobs and Lexi Nicholas} came up huge for us tonight as well as our entire team. This is a massive win for us. I'm just really proud that we gave up that late goal and came back out in overtime, raised our level again, kept fighting and kept our composure in PKs. Lexi Nicholas came up big time with some big saves. It was a pretty special performance from these guys."

On Eva's first career goal…
"We're excited for her. It's her first career goal and what a time to have it. She's a fantastic player. She's incredibly dangerous in one versus one situations. She's great at setting people up around the goal and we're excited to start working her back into our lineup. I think what's exciting about this group is we have so many talented players that we have people that can come off the bench and contribute and that's something that she really did tonight."

Senior Goalkeeper Lexi Nicholas
On saves today…
"I think in that situation you just have to focus and try to read them as best as you can. I knew I needed to come up big for my team and knew they deserved a performance like that. So, I just tried to step up and do what I could. I am glad I could get two of them."

Sophomore Forward Natalie Jacobs
Thoughts on penalty kick…
"Well PKs are all confidence and we talk about that all the time; Have a routine. I was just not really worried about everything going on. I was like I have done it before, I can do it. I just had to stay confident and do my normal routine."