After a long road trip to the Northeast and Missouri, Texas A&M soccer returned to Ellis Field on Sunday, Sept. 22, for the annual Turn it Gold game against Oklahoma — an event to raise money for childhood cancer. The Aggies fell to Oklahoma 2-1 after struggling to capitalize on their many opportunities.
Freshman goalkeeper Sydney Fuller made her impact known early in the sixth minute with a diving save to prevent a goal scoring opportunity for the Sooners.
Oklahoma struck first in the 17th minute with a high left shot to the back of the net by senior forward Ella Pappas.
However, A&M returned the favor 40 seconds later when senior midfielder Mia Pante received a pass from junior M Sydney Becerra, placing her shot in the bottom left of the goal to tie the game at one.
Troubles for the Fightin’ Farmers defense continued in the 26th minute when Fuller deflected a shot by the Sooners after a corner kick. The ball went to junior M Michelle Pak who headed in the ball for Oklahoma’s second goal of the game.
Frustrations for the Aggies continued in the 32nd minute when graduate F Kate Kolvin expressed her dissatisfaction to the official over a no-call, prompting Kolvin to earn the first yellow card of the game for either side.
Offensively, both teams had three shots on goal with the Sooners outshooting A&M four-to-five.
Play resumed in a slower fashion in the second half, with both teams unable to land a shot on goal until the 62nd minute when Becerra attempted a shot low and right to Oklahoma junior GK Caroline Duffy.
“I feel bad that I didn’t prepare the team well to be able to handle it,” coach G Guerrieri said. “We thought we set up some situations by showing some scenarios by which we could score more goals. And we created some situations where we just didn’t finish it off. You got to give the goalkeeper. She did a good job.”
Even though the Aggies managed to out-shoot the Sooners 10-7, with six shots on goal to their four, poor shot selection and the inability to finish doomed them in the second half.
“It’s just a matter of our effort,” Guerrieri said. “[It’s] our emphasis on how we’re going to take care of all the little things that make us great.”
The Maroon and White continued battering Duffy with shots towards the final minutes but were unable to secure the game-timing goal.
“It’s difficult because we’ve got some great players on this roster that are outstanding finishers and are coming back from ACL injuries,” Guerrieri said. “So having other players step up to fill those roles is something that just kind of continues to be something that’s not really their role.”
Hopefully, roles and other logistics are worked out before the Aggies encounter the ranked Auburn Tigers, or they might be in for another close game in Ellis.
Next, A&M will remain at Ellis Field to host No. 6 Auburn on Thursday, Sept. 26 on SECN+/ESPN+.
