Texas A&M soccer has been on a tear in head coach Bobby Shuttleworth’s first showing to Aggie soccer fans, leading the Maroon and White to two convincing wins during their spring slate. Registering a 2-0 win against Dallas Baptist and a 4-0 thrashing versus Texas Tech in Denton, A&M returned to Ellis Field to take on Lamar.
The team from Beaumont tried to protect its oil, but the Aggies took all their reserves in a commanding 6-0 win over the Cardinals. A&M never gave Lamar a chance, as the Fightin’ Farmers improved their record to 3-0.
First period
The Aggies deployed a 4-1-3-2 formation and maintained possession early, forcing the Cardinals to spend much of the first 30 minutes chasing after the ball. There were a couple of chances early on for Lamar, but the A&M defense contained the attacks quickly, allowing no shots on goal during the period.
Favoring channels through the left side early on, the Aggies instead found success in a right-sided cross from freshman forward Ireland Churchill, locating sophomore F Bailey Cate unmanned at the far end of the post, creating an easy tap-in.
But Cate didn’t stop there, as she quickly found the back of the net again after dual-assists from senior midfielder Trinity Buchanan and — again — Churchill, doubling the score through rapid-fire attacks.
Senior F Leah Diaz decided to get in on the action after another Churchill decisive pass that led to a hat trick of assists late into the period, allowing Diaz to score an easy goal and ending the first period with a dominant Maroon and White performance to set the tone early.
Second period
The middle 30 minutes looked similar to the first, as A&M continued to control possession and maneuvered its way into the final third with ease. The Cardinals produced error after error, and it was only a matter of time before the Aggies found a way to capitalize.
Senior F Kaylee Noble was the first to leap on the lapse in concentration, stealing a weak Cardinal pass away and attempting a solo effort on goal, starting in A&M’s half and dribbling all the way to the edge of her opponent’s box, but barely missing the top right corner.
After trading possessions for a while, the Aggies broke away from their half and traveled deep into the Cardinal’s defense, a defense that looked defeated and outnumbered by A&M’s electrified offense. Weaving around two defenders, junior F Shea Ryan attempted a shot from the edge of the penalty area that bounced off the top of the crossbar, finding the feet of Churchill within the six-yard box to add to an already spectacular personal statline and another goal on the scoreboard.
Third period
A&M kept the show running in its final act, and helping it get to the curtain call was its defensive display.
The Cardinals came into the third looking for a goal, but quickly met the likes of sophomore defenders Emma Hoang and Riley Crooks. The pairing fended off many forward balls that tried to penetrate their defensive line, and ultimately gave Lamar no chance at a possible comeback.
And as great defense produces great offense, this collective defensive effort led to a magnificent cross that found Cate in front of the goal for her hat-trick, capping off not only a great individual performance but an all-around team effort as the Aggies found a fifth goal.
As a cherry on top, with 10 seconds left in the game, a free kick from junior D/M Bella James found Crook’s head and the back of the net, ending the night with six total goals against a battered conclave of Cardinals, an achievement Shuttleworth surely hopes to continue producing in his first year as head coach.
A&M will hope to continue its undefeated streak against Houston on Saturday, April 11, at 6 p.m.
