LEXINGTON, Kentucky – The No. 6 Texas A&M Aggies used another fast start to topple the Kentucky Wildcats, 4-1, Sunday afternoon at Bell Soccer Complex.
Ally Watt and Emily Bates scored goals in the first 10 minutes to give the Maroon & White a 2-0 edge. On Thursday, the Aggies needed just three minutes to grab a two-goal advantage.
Bates recorded the brace just before the midway point of the first half as Texas A&M mounted a 3-0 lead.
Watt’s goal was her team-leading 11th of season and the 29th of her career. She moved into a tie with Allie Bailey for 13th place on the Aggies’ career goals list.
Texas A&M improved to 13-1-1 overall and 4-1-1 in the SEC. Kentucky dropped to 4-11-0 overall and 0-6-0 in league play.
The Aggies owned wide margin in shots (22-5) and a 5-2 edge in shots-on-goal. Kentucky held a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.
GOAL SUMMARY
8′ – The UK goalkeeper sent a punt to the center circle. Addie McCain received the offering and slotted a pass down the inside right channel to Watt who raced pass on defender and beat the keeper 1-v-1 from eight yards. A&M 1, UK 0.
10′ – Bates ripped a shot from 20 yards, left of the penalty arc. Her shot caromed off a Wildcats’ defender arced high over the keeper, hit the bottom of the crossbar and went into goal. A&M 2, UK 0.
23′ – Briana Alston sent a diagonal ball in from 35 yards out on the right touchline to Asdis Halldorsdottir settled inside the penalty arc. Halldorsdottir knocked a one-touch pass to Bates who uncorked a shot from near the penalty spot to inside the right post for the brace. A&M 3, UK 0.
30′ – Kentucky took advantage of an Aggies’ defensive lapse to break the scoring seal. An errant pass by the Aggies gave the Wildcats possession at the top of their UK’s offensive third. Tanya Samarzich slotted a ball to Abby Steiner who was alone for a 1-v-1 from eight yards. A&M 3, UK 1.
67′ – Alston sent in a free kick from the center stripe near the right touchline. Her offering found the head of McCain for her fifth goal of the season. A&M 4, UK 1.
UP NEXT
The Aggies return to Ellis Field for Senior Night on Friday. Match time against the Mississippi State Bulldogs is slated for 7 p.m.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach G Guerrieri
On fast starts the last two games…
“Quick starts are something we put a lot of emphasis on. But it’s one thing to talk about it and another thing to actually go out and do it. Now they’ve gone out and done it in two straight games, so that’s something we can build off of. It makes you play that much more freedom and confidence.”
On getting a road win…
“Three points on the road in the SEC is very important. It’s very difficult to do. Today our ‘Engine Room’ in the midfield really put it together today. Emily Bates scored two goals, Addie McCain added another goal and Grace Piper was outstanding. They played a huge role in us getting the three points.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics