- Ireland Churchill recorded her second brace of the season giving her seven goals in the last six games.
- Trinity Buchanan, Bella Carapazza and Kieana Smith added assists for the Maroon & White.
- The Aggies were unable to convert on a game-tying penalty kick opportunity in the 85th minute.
LEXINGTON – The Texas A&M soccer team was unable to capitalize on an Ireland Churchill brace as the Aggies lost the SEC opener to the Kentucky Wildcats, 3-2, Friday evening at Bell Soccer Complex.
The Maroon & White pounced early with Churchill scoring her first goal in the seventh minute and she added an equalizer in the 75th minute, but the Wildcats nosed back ahead in the 77th minute to land the decisive blow.
The Aggies were granted a penalty kick in the 85th minute when Churchill was fouled in the box, but Buchanan’s shot was saved by Kentucky’s goalkeeper Megan Holland and Churchill was unable to put home the follow up.
After breaking the scoring seal in the seventh minute, Texas A&M controlled play for most of the opening stanza before surrendering a goal in the waning seconds. The teams went into the intermission with the score tied 1-1 despite the Maroon & White owning the advantage in shots (4-2), shots-on-goal (3-1) and corner kicks (6-2).
For the contest, the Aggies had an 11-6 advantage in corner kick opportunities but were unable to cash in.
GOAL SUMMARY
7’ | After Kentucky’s goalkeeper parried a blast from Bella Carapazza off the crossbar, Ireland Churchill cleaned up from six yards out for the icebreaker. A&M 1, UK 0
45’ | After the Aggies were unable to clear a service into the box by Kentucky’s Alexis Tylenda, Juliette Rayo threaded a shot between an A&M defender, the keeper and the right post from eight yards out. A&M 1, UK 1
70’ | Sydney Arendarczyk struck from 25 yards, beating the Aggie keeper to the upper 90. A&M 1, UK 2
75’ | With her back to the goal at the top of the box, Kieana Smith tapped a pass to Trinity Buchanan who chipped a one-touch offering to Churchill. The Aggie freshman blasted a low-driving shot into the left side netting. A&M 2, UK 2
77’ | The Wildcats exploited the Texas A&M’s inability to clear a long-distance free kick from the penalty box with Kendall Campbell scoring from 19 yards. A&M 2, UK 3
UP NEXT
The Aggies remain on the road next Friday when they travel to Nashville for an 8 p.m. match against the No. 2 Vanderbilt Commodores.
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