Coming off back-to-back shutout wins against TCU and Louisiana Tech, the Texas A&M soccer team traveled northeast to take on Central Connecticut State Thursday, handling it in a similar fashion with a 2-0 victory behind graduate forward Jasmine Wilkinson’s high-left goal and sophomore F Kennedy Clark’s low-left goal.
Once the match started, it seemed that both teams were feeling each other out. After going back and forth in the midfield for the first 10 minutes of the match, the Maroon and White had a great effort with a shot on goal from junior midfielder Sydney Becerra, but her shot was stopped by Central Connecticut sophomore goalkeeper Taylor DeFlorio.
Following some exchanged shots between both teams, Central Connecticut almost took the lead after an attempted header off a corner kick, but it was deflected out of bounds by senior defender Victoria Violette.
The Aggies’ graduate goalkeeper Grace McClellan made her presence known, as she had many clearances that stopped the momentum of Central Connecticut’s offense.
“She’s a winner and a good leader,” coach G Guerrieri said. “She didn’t have to make the necessary saves today, but her defense is there to look after her the same way she looks after her defense.”
The half ended with both teams having success on the defensive end and walking into the locker room scoreless.
“You’ve got to give Central Connecticut a lot of credit in the first half,” Guerrieri said. “They bottled us up well. Their organization was great … and they are a tough team to play against. It took a little bit of reorganization from our players to get past that block.”
As soon as the second half began, the Aggies attacked. Wilkinson put the moves on her defender and cannoned a shot at the goal but hit the left post. During this match alone, Wilkinson was able to put pressure on the Blue Devils and record three shots against them.
Wilkinson broke free again in the 53rd-minute. After receiving a long ball from the opposing penalty box from sophomore defender Margo Matula, Wilkinson’s shot hit the top-left corner of the goal for her first goal of the season with style.
“It was good for her to break the seal,” Guerrieri said. “She was our leading scorer from last year and has been close so many times, so I am pleased for her.”
The Maroon and White continued to keep pressure on the Blue Devils in the second half, putting up 22 total shots and nine shots on goal.
Once the 71st minute came around, Clark stapled her name in A&M’s scoring book, beating her defender after a nice pass from graduate forward Allison Lowrey and scoring in the low left of the goal. It was Clark’s first goal as an Aggie.
Time was running out and Central Connecticut was desperate to put at least a consolation point on the board. In the 87th minute, the Blue Devils’ fired a shot towards the left center of the goal but had no luck. After a great save by the Maroon and White’s defensive line, time ran out, and the Aggies ran away with the victory.
With the win, the Aggies record their 499th victory all-time and will look to become the first SEC team to crack 500 wins. Next, the Maroon and White will stay in Connecticut and travel to Storrs to take on UConn at Morrone Stadium at 12 p.m. Sunday.
