Friday, August 31
College Station
8 p.m.
Texas A&M
5-0-0
3
vs
1
Oklahoma
1-3-1
1
2
F
Oklahoma
1
0
1
Texas A&M
0
3
3
Photo by: Russell James/Texas A&M Athletics
Aggies Start 5-0-0 for First Time Since 1999
Aug 31, 2018 | Soccer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 8 Texas A&M Aggies rebounded from a halftime deficit to beat the Oklahoma Sooners, 3-1, Friday night at Ellis Field. The victory gave the Aggies a 5-0-0 start for the first time since 1999.
Texas A&M had its four-game shutout streak, the longest to start a season in program history, snapped in the 42nd minute and trailed 1-0 at the intermission. But the Aggies overwhelmed the Sooners in the second half, logging a 20-6 advantage in shots, 7-2 margin in shots-on-goal and 5-1 edge in corner kicks in the Stanza and steamrollered their way to three goals.
Grace Piper logged the first multi-goal game of her career with two goals in just over 10 minutes of play early in the second half. She added an assist on the final goal for a career-high five points.
Ally Watt continued her hot play, scoring a goal in the 64th minute for her fifth tally in the last four games. Kendall Bates logged two assists and Ásdís Halldórsdóttir and Kendall Ritchie chimed in with one assist apiece.
Texas A&M improved to 17-2-0 all-time against Oklahoma, including a 10-0-0 mark at Ellis Field. The Aggies have outscored the Sooners 36-7 in their 10 games in College Station.
The Maroon & White continued their brilliant work on set pieces. The two corner kick scores increased Texas A&M's total of set piece goals to seven, including three off corner kicks.
For the game, Texas A&M dominated the tally for shots (30-13) and shots-on-goal (12-5) and the Aggies held a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.
GOAL SUMMARY
42' – Hailey Davidson cleaned up the second chance scoring opportunity on a corner kick. After the initial offering was thwarted, Kristina O'Donnell poked a ball out to Davidson at the top of the penalty box and she sent a low driving ball left of the keeper to break the scoring seal. OU 1, A&M 0.
47' – Kendall Bates sent a corner kick up high to Ritchie 25 yards off the end line on the left side. Ritchie sent a low driving ball into the box, finding Piper 10 yards off the line, a shade right of the right post. Piper took time to gather the pass and then launched a shot into the left side-netting for the equalizer. A&M 1, OU 1.
57' – Ritchie sent a corner kick in from the right side, finding the head of Halldórsdóttir at the top of the six-yard box. The Sooners' keeper made a self-preservation save on Halldorsdottir's shot, but the carom came right back to Piper who poked it home for the go-ahead goal. A&M 2, OU 1.
64' – From the midfield stripe, Ritchie sent a ball down the left outside channel. Kendall Bates gathered it up at the end line and sent a ball back to Piper at the left corner of the penalty box. Piper sent a ball to the top of the six-yard box where Watt got her head on the ball to beat the keeper to the left side. A&M 3, OU 1.
UP NEXT
The Aggies continue their eight-game homestand Sunday when they host the No. 9 Santa Clara Broncos in a 6 p.m. contest on Ellis Field. Texas A&M looks to improve to 6-0-0 for the fourth time in school history when they face the Broncos in the Top 10 showdown.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach G Guerrieri
On first time being 5-0 since 1999…
"We have had a lot of good teams since 1999. I think it shows the talent we have as a team. We haven't been down all season and for the team to come back and take control of the first two minutes in the second half is a pretty good indicator of what this team can do; they can turn it on when they need to turn it on."
On what he told his players at the half…
"All we talked about was holding the girls accountable. We didn't think we worked hard enough, especially in the midfield. We just needed to pick up our pace and in the second half, Emily Bates, really picked it up. In turn, that opens up space for Addie McCain and Grace Piper. Then Grace Piper scores two goals. It is a pretty good indicator that it is chain reaction of hard work pays off."
On Piper scoring first two goals of the season…
"It is great because no one works harder than she does. She is very coachable, and it is great to see kids score. It is just great to see the joy of their celebration after the goal."
Junior Midfielder Grace Piper
On scoring the first two goals of the game and her season…
"It was really cool. It was a frustrating first half, and just to be able to go into the locker room and regroup. I really think it said a lot about the team. Those were really team goals, they really didn't come from one person. It was just sort of a fight in there, so it was really relieving to score and it took a lot of pressure off of us."
On what thoughts were going through her head on the goals…
"Honestly since they were rebound goals, it was just kick it as fast as you can. The first one, I had a little bit of time, and I was able to cut it and sort of place it. The second one, I really just kicked it and it ended up going in, so it was really nice."
On what it was like taking the pressure off Ally Watt…
"We definitely looked at Ally Watt for goals, and that is her job as a forward. But as a team we really just want to spread the scoring around and get as many people involved as possible. That just shows the character of our team, we are not just about one person. We don't rely on one person. We have a lot of leaders on this team, and a lot of people have to step up for us to be successful in the future."
Texas A&M had its four-game shutout streak, the longest to start a season in program history, snapped in the 42nd minute and trailed 1-0 at the intermission. But the Aggies overwhelmed the Sooners in the second half, logging a 20-6 advantage in shots, 7-2 margin in shots-on-goal and 5-1 edge in corner kicks in the Stanza and steamrollered their way to three goals.
Grace Piper logged the first multi-goal game of her career with two goals in just over 10 minutes of play early in the second half. She added an assist on the final goal for a career-high five points.
Ally Watt continued her hot play, scoring a goal in the 64th minute for her fifth tally in the last four games. Kendall Bates logged two assists and Ásdís Halldórsdóttir and Kendall Ritchie chimed in with one assist apiece.
Texas A&M improved to 17-2-0 all-time against Oklahoma, including a 10-0-0 mark at Ellis Field. The Aggies have outscored the Sooners 36-7 in their 10 games in College Station.
The Maroon & White continued their brilliant work on set pieces. The two corner kick scores increased Texas A&M's total of set piece goals to seven, including three off corner kicks.
For the game, Texas A&M dominated the tally for shots (30-13) and shots-on-goal (12-5) and the Aggies held a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.
GOAL SUMMARY
42' – Hailey Davidson cleaned up the second chance scoring opportunity on a corner kick. After the initial offering was thwarted, Kristina O'Donnell poked a ball out to Davidson at the top of the penalty box and she sent a low driving ball left of the keeper to break the scoring seal. OU 1, A&M 0.
47' – Kendall Bates sent a corner kick up high to Ritchie 25 yards off the end line on the left side. Ritchie sent a low driving ball into the box, finding Piper 10 yards off the line, a shade right of the right post. Piper took time to gather the pass and then launched a shot into the left side-netting for the equalizer. A&M 1, OU 1.
57' – Ritchie sent a corner kick in from the right side, finding the head of Halldórsdóttir at the top of the six-yard box. The Sooners' keeper made a self-preservation save on Halldorsdottir's shot, but the carom came right back to Piper who poked it home for the go-ahead goal. A&M 2, OU 1.
64' – From the midfield stripe, Ritchie sent a ball down the left outside channel. Kendall Bates gathered it up at the end line and sent a ball back to Piper at the left corner of the penalty box. Piper sent a ball to the top of the six-yard box where Watt got her head on the ball to beat the keeper to the left side. A&M 3, OU 1.
UP NEXT
The Aggies continue their eight-game homestand Sunday when they host the No. 9 Santa Clara Broncos in a 6 p.m. contest on Ellis Field. Texas A&M looks to improve to 6-0-0 for the fourth time in school history when they face the Broncos in the Top 10 showdown.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach G Guerrieri
On first time being 5-0 since 1999…
"We have had a lot of good teams since 1999. I think it shows the talent we have as a team. We haven't been down all season and for the team to come back and take control of the first two minutes in the second half is a pretty good indicator of what this team can do; they can turn it on when they need to turn it on."
On what he told his players at the half…
"All we talked about was holding the girls accountable. We didn't think we worked hard enough, especially in the midfield. We just needed to pick up our pace and in the second half, Emily Bates, really picked it up. In turn, that opens up space for Addie McCain and Grace Piper. Then Grace Piper scores two goals. It is a pretty good indicator that it is chain reaction of hard work pays off."
On Piper scoring first two goals of the season…
"It is great because no one works harder than she does. She is very coachable, and it is great to see kids score. It is just great to see the joy of their celebration after the goal."
Junior Midfielder Grace Piper
On scoring the first two goals of the game and her season…
"It was really cool. It was a frustrating first half, and just to be able to go into the locker room and regroup. I really think it said a lot about the team. Those were really team goals, they really didn't come from one person. It was just sort of a fight in there, so it was really relieving to score and it took a lot of pressure off of us."
On what thoughts were going through her head on the goals…
"Honestly since they were rebound goals, it was just kick it as fast as you can. The first one, I had a little bit of time, and I was able to cut it and sort of place it. The second one, I really just kicked it and it ended up going in, so it was really nice."
On what it was like taking the pressure off Ally Watt…
"We definitely looked at Ally Watt for goals, and that is her job as a forward. But as a team we really just want to spread the scoring around and get as many people involved as possible. That just shows the character of our team, we are not just about one person. We don't rely on one person. We have a lot of leaders on this team, and a lot of people have to step up for us to be successful in the future."
Tonight's starting XI as we take on the Sooners! #GigEm pic.twitter.com/DJP1uVmDYK
— Texas A&M Soccer (@AggieSoccer) September 1, 2018
We are all tied up following this goal by @gpipesrush9!
— Texas A&M Soccer (@AggieSoccer) September 1, 2018
?? - https://t.co/2uH0DIEUor #GigEm pic.twitter.com/XUeOl81pOZ
She's done it again! @gpipesrush9 gives the Aggies the lead!
— Texas A&M Soccer (@AggieSoccer) September 1, 2018
?? - https://t.co/2uH0DIEUor #GigEm pic.twitter.com/IHD2JpG57E
"It's crossing & finishing at its best."
— Texas A&M Soccer (@AggieSoccer) September 1, 2018
@allymwatt adds to the lead following a great cross by @gpipesrush9.
?? - https://t.co/2uH0DIEUor #GigEm pic.twitter.com/JD6OpQ1B0r
Oklahoma scores sooner, but the Aggies score more often... Three second half goals erase a 1-0 halftime deficit.#GigEm pic.twitter.com/0eO8TDLk0V
— Texas A&M Soccer (@AggieSoccer) September 1, 2018
"We had to come out with fire."
— Texas A&M Soccer (@AggieSoccer) September 1, 2018
@allymwatt on the team's response in Friday's second half against Oklahoma. #GigEm pic.twitter.com/1LaP0cjKIG
"Hard work pays off."
— Texas A&M Soccer (@AggieSoccer) September 1, 2018
@gpipesrush9 talks about breaking through with two goals & an assist in Friday's win. #GigEm pic.twitter.com/XQ8gOFQcc6
Thank you #12thMan for coming out tonight and bringing the energy to Ellis Field! ??#GigEm pic.twitter.com/JYnSN2qVp6
— Texas A&M Soccer (@AggieSoccer) September 1, 2018
Team Stats
OU
TAMU
Goals
1
3
Shots
13
30
Shots on Goal
5
12
Saves
9
4
Corners
4
6
Fouls
9
6
Scoring Plays
Davidson, Hailey (2)
Assisted By: O'Donnell, Kristina
clean up on a corner kick from the top o
41:49
Piper, Grace (1)
Assisted By: Ritchie, Kendall , Bates, Kendall
corner kick played outside of the box to
46:27
Piper, Grace (3)
Assisted By: Halldorsdottir,Asdis
GOAL by TAMU Piper, Grace, Assist by Halldorsdottir,Asdis, goal number 3 for season.
56:38
Watt, Ally (5)
Assisted By: Piper, Grace , Bates, Kendall
Header at top of six-yard box on service
63:16
Game Leaders
dmf
Shots
5
SOG
4
Goals
2
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
2
Shots
7
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
M/F
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/ Soccer
M
/ SoccerM
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D
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