Photo by Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Soccer: Team effort carries Texas A&M to easy 4-0 win over UC-Irvine
With a crowd of nearly 5,000 on hand, Texas A&M soccer had a chance to make a statement on Friday night.
By the time Mikaela Harvey drove nearly half the field, evaded multiple defenders, and fired from for the opening goal, it was obvious what that statement would be.
UC Irvine was in for a long night.
Harvey’s second minute goal gave A&M a 1-0 cushion, but from that point on, the Aggies continued to press. Perhaps they fed off the energy of the crowd, or they’re starting to gel as a team, but the Aggies were dominant from the word go during their 4-0 victory.
“We wanted to make sure we set the tone with our intensity from the start,” Said A&M head coach G. Guerrieri. “You look at the pressure from our front six players, and it really set up a bunch of great stuff.”
By not slowing down for seemingly an instant, the Aggies were able to get 28 shots off, compared to just three from their opponent.
While they were aggressive, their play had a smoothness to it that doesn't bode well for other teams on their schedule. Haley Pounds took a pass from Emily Bates in the 20th minute and worked her way inside. From just outside the six yard box, Pounds launched the Aggies’ second goal into the left side of the net.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Haley Pounds helped fuel an Aggie offense that registered 28 shots.
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While Pounds’ footwork gave A&M a 2-0 lead, she credited her success to the style with which her team played.
“Our forwards put a lot of pressure on them right away. They like to play the ball over the top, but we limited them from doing that.” Pounds continued on, “I think that did it for us. We were able to keep pressuring them and not allow them to play their game.”
The Aggies added two more goals in the second half.
The first came on a corner kick that found its way into a scrum in front of the goal. With no room inside, Kate Hajdu was able to find a glimmer of space before rolling home her third goal of the season.
Up 3-0, the Aggies got their final score in the 80th minute when Emily Bates’ touch pass found Claudette Lassandro in stride. In what resembled a penalty kick, Lassandro slashed one inside the right post for her first career score.
The Aggies tore up the Anteater defense, no question. However, according to Guerrieri, it could have been much worse.
“Their goalkeeper gave up four goals, but I thought she was their player of the game. She made some big saves, three breakaway saves and some other point blank shots. So, on a night when it is all clicking (we may have scored more), but they fought hard.”
For a young team still getting its feet wet, this was a nice step. With another game Sunday night, Haley Pounds is optimistic about the way her team is beginning to come together.
“It’s amazing. We’ve only been together three weeks, but we’re already meshing so well, which is exciting for the rest of the season.”
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