News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M soccer team walked out of a donnybrook against the No. 5 Auburn Tigers with a 4-1 victory Thursday evening at Ellis Field.
The Aggies never trailed previously unbeaten Auburn (9-1-1, 1-1-1 SEC) in the victory. The Tigers entered the contest yielding just two goals in its 10 games on the season, outscoring opponents 33-2.
Texas A&M (7-4-0, 2-1-0) claimed the lead midway through the first half with Sydney Becerra scoring on a penalty kick for the first of her two goals. The Maroon & White pounced on the Tigers for a corner kick goal early the second half for a cushion. Macy Matula put home a header from Mia Pante’s service.
Grace Ivey accounted for Texas A&M’s third goal of the contest with assists for Kate Colvin and Taylor Jernigan as A&M’s lead ballooned to 3-0.
The Maroon & White appeared on their way to posting their seventh shutout of the season, but the Aggies were one player down the last 9:09 of the contest as Bella James received her second yellow card. Auburn scored just over a minute later with a header off a free kick.
Becerra capped off her second brace of the season and the third of her career with a feed from MaKhiya McDonald in the final minute.
The Aggie defense stymied Auburn in the first half as A&M had a 12-3 edge in shots, including a 4-1 advantage in shots-on-goal. The backline of Adysen Armenta, Carolyn Calzada, Macy Matula and Margo Matula along with defensive mids James and Taylor Pounds held Auburn leading scorers Olivia Woodson and Shelby Sallee to just one shot-on-goal for the match. They were active on both ends with Pounds drawing the penalty in the box on a high-flying header and Macy Matula adding a goal.
GOAL SUMMARY
24’ | Sydney Becerra buried the penalty kick in the bottom left corner after Taylor Pounds drew a foul in the box from Auburn keeper Maddie Prohaska. A&M 1, AU 0.
49’ | Off a corner kick from Mia Pante on the right side, Macy Matula got free in the 6-yard box and snuck a header past the goalie into the bottom left corner. A&M 2, AU 0
67’ | Taylor Jernigan settled the ball in the middle of the field and passed it wide to Kate Colvin down to the right side of the box. Colvin sent a cross on the ground where Grace Ivey beat the goal to the ball and dribbled to her right to finish into an empty net from six yards out. A&M 3, AU 0
83’ | Anna Haddock sent a free kick into the 6-yard box from 22 yards out and Becky Contreras finished with a header from three yards. A&M 3, AU 1
90’ | After a give-and-go with MaKhiya McDonald, Sydney Becerra placed a shot on goal that deflected off an Auburn defender’s foot into the back of the net.
UP NEXT…
The Aggies head to Austin Sunday for the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown. Match time against the Texas Longhorns is 6 p.m.