News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
In front of the second-largest crowd in Ellis Field history, Texas A&M earned a 2-1 win over the UConn Huskies with Taylor Jernigan netting the game-winner in the 86th minute Saturday evening.
With less than five minutes remaining Holly Storer made a brilliant defensive play up field to win possession. She delivered a pinpoint cross into the penalty area, where Taylor Jernigan finished with her left foot into the bottom left corner to give the Aggies the late go-ahead goal.
Texas A&M welcomed 6,857 fans to Ellis Field, marking the second-largest crowd in program history. It also ranked 10th on the NCAA’s all-time list for attendance at a regular-season match.
Texas A&M held a 12–6 advantage in total shots and a 6–3 edge in corner kicks for the match, while UConn finished with a 3–1 lead in shots-on-goal. Aggie goalkeeper Sydney Fuller recorded two saves to preserve the result.
UConn (1-1-0) came out with early pressure, nearly striking in the opening minute when Kelly Monaco set up Alayna Taylor inside the box. Taylor fired a shot from 10 yards out toward the bottom left corner, but Fuller made the stop.
Texas A&M (2-0-2) nearly found the breakthrough in the 13th minute when Leah Diaz created space and ripped a shot from 25 yards out. The strike looked promising but missed by just inches keeping the score level.
The Aggies broke through shortly after in the 25th minute on a beautifully play. Riley Crooks switched the field with a long ball that found Jernigan on the left wing. Jernigan whipped a cross to Trinity Buchanan, who buried her shot from 14 yards out into the bottom left corner. The goal marked Buchanan’s third straight game finding the back of the net, giving A&M the 1–0 lead.
Texas A&M nearly doubled its lead in the 37th minute when Bailey Cate stepped into a shot from 18 yards out. Her strike had the keeper beat but ricocheted off the crossbar, denying the Aggies the cushion they wanted going into the half.
UConn didn’t quit as they answered in the 42nd minute after Texas A&M was whistled for a foul. Kaitlyn Richins took the free kick who struck a rocket from 50 yards out into the top left corner to level the match at 1–1.
The Aggies almost broke the equalizer early in the second half off a corner in the 55th minute. Kennedy Clark delivered a perfect ball into the center of the box, where Kat Campbell rose above the defense for a header. Her effort narrowly missed high, skimming over the crossbar.