News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – A scoreless first half and a raucous second half led to a 2-2 draw between the Texas A&M soccer team and the LSU Tigers Friday evening at Ellis Field.
Texas A&M (8-7-1, 3-4-1 SEC) was unable to break the scoring seal in the first half despite a 9-2 advantage in shots, including 5-0 in shots-on-goal. A combination of five first-half saves by Tiger keeper Audur Scheving and a couple shots going a hair’s breadth off target, kept the Maroon & White off the board.
The Aggies netted the ice breaker in the 54th minute with Sydney Becerra and Grace Ivey setting up MaKhiya McDonald, who sent precision shot into the left side netting from seven yards out on the right side.
Texas A&M came out on the unlucky end of a couple VAR decisions as LSU turned the tide. After no call was made on an alleged hand ball by an Aggie defender in the penalty box, a referee review gifted a penalty kick to the Tigers and Sydney Cheesman converted for the equalizer in the 55th minute.
In the 64th minute, the referee went back to the monitor on a hand ball by LSU in the box. This time no penalty kick was awarded to Texas A&M. The Tigers pounced and scored within eight seconds of the ball being put in play with Ava Galligan muscling in the go-ahead goal.
Becerra pulled a point from the fire with a gorgeous free kick over the wall from 20 yards with 9:30 remaining to knot the game at 2-2.
The Maroon & White dominated the second half everywhere, but in the score sheet, owning a 15-4 edge in shots. For the match, Texas A&M owned advantages in shots (24-6), shots-on-goal (9-3) and corner kicks (8-3).
Texas A&M remained unbeaten all-time against LSU, now with a 12-0-4 advantage. The Maroon & White also own a 27-0-4 edge against teams from the Pelican State.
In a match saturated with roughhousing, LSU escaped a booking despite a 16-11 edge in fouls, including 11-7 in the second half. Texas A&M’s Macy Matula drew a yellow card early in the second half and a Aggie head coach G Guerrieri received a yellow and subsequent red eight seconds apart in the 64th minute
GOAL SUMMARY
54’ | Grace Ivey received the ball in the middle of the field and passed it wide to an open MaKhiya McDonald who sprinted into the box and finished with her right foot from 7 yards out. A&M 1, LSU 0
55’ | Following a Texas A&M handball in the box, Sydney Cheeseman converted the penalty kick. LSU 1, A&M 1
64’ | Tori Gillis played a free kick into the box from beyond midfield that could not be cleared by the Aggie defense and Ava Galligan gained possession and beat the goalkeeper in the bottom right corner from 8 yards out. LSU 2, A&M 1
81’ | Sydney Becerra bent a free kick over the wall and into the upper right ninety of the goal from 22 yards out. A&M 2, LSU 2
UP NEXT…
The Aggies return to Ellis Field Friday for a 7 p.m. match against the LSU Tigers.