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Aggies Run Win Streak to Seven Matches
ATHENS, Georgia – Liz
Keester and Allie Bailey both notched one goal and one assist to lead
the Texas A&M Aggies to a 2-1 win over the Georgia Bulldogs in SEC
action at the Turner Soccer Complex.
With the
triumph, the Maroon and White extended their lead in the SEC standings
to three points. The Aggies led former second-place LSU by two points
entering Sunday, but the Tigers lost and were passed in the standings
by Florida and Kentucky. The Gators and Wildcats both won on Sunday and
have 18 points on 6-2-0 league ledgers. Texas A&M has 21 points
with their 7-1-0 SEC record.
After their 1-0 loss
to Tennessee in their SEC opener in Knoxville, the Aggies have rolled
to seven consecutive wins, including four road victories.
Texas
A&M drew first blood in the sixth minute of action. Bailey worked
the ball down the left touchline and sent a pass to Keester at the left
corner of the penalty box. Keester took three dribbles towards the
center of the pitch and found an opening in the Georgia defense,
threading a shot between the left post and diving Georgia goalkeeper
Caitlin Woody. It was the seventh goal of the season for the freshman.
With
both teams battling for the flow of play, the score remained 1-0 in
favor of the Aggies until Georgia threw numbers into the offensive
attack near the end of the first half. The Bulldogs tied the contest at
1-1 in the 40th minute. Andie Fontenetta laced a diagonal pass through
the A&M defense and found the foot of Emma Sonnett six yards from
goal and she sent a one-touch shot to the back of the net for the
equalizer.
Georgia owned a 6-4 shot advantage in
the first half, but shots-on-goal were even at 2-2. The Bulldogs took
the only corner kick in the first half.
Texas
A&M turned up the offensive intensity in the second half and it
paid off in the 64th minute when Bailey notched the game-winning goal.
Keester unleashed a shot from 12 yards out that Woody was able to save,
but Bailey controlled the carom in the six-yard box and sent it to the
back of the net for her sixth goal of the season.
The
Aggies controlled the run of play for much of the second half,
outshooting the Bulldogs 11-6 in the stanza including a 5-1 edge in
shots-on-goal. The Maroon and White also owned a 2-1 edge in second
half corner kicks.
The Aggies return to action on Friday, October 25 when they host the Ole Miss Rebels for Senior Night at Ellis Field.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach G Guerrieri
On
winning a tightly contested game: Georgia is a really good team. They
have some really good soccer athletes. To play them on their field on a
beautiful day with a great crowd was fun, but it was a massive
challenge.
On the work of Allie Bailey and Liz
Keester: For Allie (Bailey) to get a game-winning goal was huge. And
Liz (Keester) on the first goal did a really good job of controlling
the ball and being patient until she had an opening in the defense.
Both of them were able to help us keep the ball and hold the ball in
attack which is what we needed to do against this team.
On
winning two games on the road this weekend: This was an important
weekend for us. To come to two places where none of these players have
been and to get two wins is great for us and it’s building towards
great things.
On the importance of having two or
their last three games at home: It’s a good advantage to have down the
stretch. Friday should be a great atmosphere playing against a really
good Ole Miss squad on Senior Night.
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