Shuttleworth Era Starts with 2-1 Victory at Rice

• With Bobby Shuttleworth’s first career head coaching victory, the Aggies improved to 25-7-2 in season openers.
• Trinity Buchanan registered her second career brace with goals in the 19th and 80th minute.
• Five freshmen earned the start in the opener, including Makenna August, Ireland Churchill, Blake Hughes, Finley Lacher and Ava Sexton.

HOUSTON – The Texas A&M soccer team opened the 2026 campaign and the Bobby Shuttleworth head coaching era with a 2-1 victory over the Rice Owls Wednesday evening at Holloway Field.

Trinity Buchanan accounted for both Aggie goals, including the game-winner on a penalty kick in the 80^th minute. It marked her second career brace and her first in the Maroon & White.

Texas A&M led 1-0 at the intermission, but a larger margin was just a hair’s breadth away. After a brief feeling out process early, the Aggies began menacing the Rice back line. Ava Sexton put a header off the cross bar from four yards out in the 16^th minute. After Buchanan’s icebreaker, Emma Hoang tagged the woodwork with a shot of her own from 18 yards.

The Aggies rued the missed opportunities in the first half when Rice evened the match in the 61^st minute on a free kick.

Texas A&M took advantage of a rough-and-tumble Owls’ defense to score the game-winner. Rice committed 15 fouls in the match and the 13^th proved to be the difference. Riley Crooks was working the ball down the left side of the penalty box when she was taken down, putting Buchanan at the spot with the match on the line.

Nine freshmen made their Aggie debuts in the opener, including five starters. Makenna August, Ireland Churchill, Blake Hughes, Finley Lacher and Ava Sexton on the pitch at the opening whistle.

August made seven saves as the Aggies fought off a surly Rice attack. The Owls peppered 19 shots in the match and 14 in the second half.

GOAL SUMMARY
19’ | Trinity Buchanan received a pass at the center stripe and dribbled through the defensive midfield. She ripped a shot from 22 yards out on the right side of the arc into the left side netting. A&M 1, Rice 0

61’ | Lauren Pickup scored from four yards out on the second header off a free kick from 45 yards out. A&M 1, Rice 1

80’ | After Riley Crooks drew a foul in the box, Buchanan converted on the penalty kick despite the Owls’ keeper guessing the right way as her low driving shot went under the diving netminder. A&M 2, Rice 1

UP NEXT
The Aggies continue on the road when they travel to Waco for Sunday’s 7:30 p.m. contest against the Baylor Bears.