Texas A&M returns to action tonight at 6PM at Ellis Field. The Aggies will face off against the Abilene Christian University Wildcats.

A&M is 1-0 all-time against ACU and 21-0 all-time versus teams from the Southland Conference. A&M notched a 4-1 win in the lone meeting in 2015.

Abilene Christian has begun the year with a 3-0 record. ACU won at New Mexico State (3-1) and UTEP (2-1) to open the season, then tallied a 2-0 home victory against University of Southwest (New Mexico).

ACU has only been playing Division 1 soccer since 2013. Last season was monumental for the program as they won their first Southland Conference Championship and advanced to their first ever NCAA Tournament. They were promptly eliminated by Baylor in the first round. But the 2018 season gives the Wildcats something to build on. Prior to last season, the Wildcats were winless in Southland Tournament play and now, the group is picked to repeat as champion.

ACU returns 23 players from last season's squad and 5 were named to the Southland's Pre-season 1st team all-conference list.

Junior Christina Arteaga returns to ACU as the side's scoring leader. She totaled 10 goals in 2018 and already has 3 of the team's 7 goals this season.

Junior Erin Smith returns to goal for ACU after seeing significant playing time last season. She has played every minute in goal in this young season. allowing 2 goals while totaling 11 saves.

Though the competition isn't comparable, I will note that ACU and A&M mirror each other in both goals for and goals against. Each team has outscored their opponents 7-2 through 2 games (with 2 being on the road and 1 at home). ACU has unleashed a ton of shots, averaging over 22 per game. Roughly 48% of those are on frame. Abilene Christian has a mere 14 fouls and 1 yellow card on the season, which is about as Christ-like as they come.

Abilene Christian really seems to have dominated possession in their early matches against inferior opponents. This is honestly a better Southland Conference opponent than I expected coming into this game. ACU should be a nice tune-up game for A&M, but they're no pushover.


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Ags take a 1-0 lead less than a minute into the match.

Another nice back to goal assist from R. Smith. Lopez finishes.

And it's 2-0 57 seconds in. Wow.

Lopez to Watt. Goal!

Now 2 goals in 1 minute?!?

No one told the team that ACU is no pushover

Ugh HULU live mush have changed something. Last year I could watch all the games. This year I got nothing

McCain makes it 3-0

Audio feed on KAGC: https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KAGCAM

replay of the first goal

McCain pushes it to 4-0.

Final score:

TAMU 4 - ACU 0.

Jimena off to a hot start this season. 3 goals (2 game winners) and 3 assists.

Anybody got any pictures of the goals from the end lines?

Not much to say after a beat down like that. ACU was overwhelmed. A&M needs to finish more of its chances in the box. Lopez had a stellar game and continues to emerge as the team's best player to this point in the season. Taylor Ziemer had another strong effort and McCain really showed up tonight in a big way which was good to see.

Looking forward to the matchup with Ohio State on Friday, which should be a better barometer of how much the team has improved since Santa Clara.

Once again everyone except the backup keepers got a chance to play. That will be important as the season goes on because injuries will happen. I hope Jordan, Kenna and Olivia understand they are one collision away from being in goal. The passing to start the game could not have been any better.
I see Santa Clara lost twice on their ACC road trip and Pepperdine also lost twice at home so that will not help our RPI.
Jenna is up to 35 minutes played this season. She had played just 57 her first 2 years due to injury.

very nervous about our keeper going forward- not a great athlete and a weak leg

could be very interesting

MookieBlaylock said:

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very nervous about our keeper going forward- not a great athlete and a weak leg

could be very interesting

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I don't understand this post. She's a converted field player. She's quite athletic. And she has played the ball with either foot effectively.

I agree with all of this except #4. I agree Rheagan seems way more comfortable with her back to goal and when she can quickly flick on to Ally, it's really dangerous. But I feel like her 1st touch fails her most of the time and then she has to fight to recover. She never gives up on it but I feel like when she can trap it one touch cleaner, she's going to be significantly more effective in both her final 3rd distribution and her turn to goal.

Im being nitpicky though. Im super happy with where we are 4 games in.

redd38 said:

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Anybody got any pictures of the goals from the end lines?

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And Redd reveals that he was in attendance. Nicely played, sir.

redd38 said:

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Anybody got any pictures of the goals from the end lines?

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I too see what you did there

Giggem said:

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MookieBlaylock said:

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very nervous about our keeper going forward- not a great athlete and a weak leg

could be very interesting

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I don't understand this post. She's a converted field player. She's quite athletic. And she has played the ball with either foot effectively.

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Oh boy

Highlights:

https://12thman.com/news/2019/9/1/soccer-aggies-blitz-abilene-christian-in-4-0-win.aspx

Interviews:

Yeah, I'm not saying Rheagan is playing at an Ally Watt level--just noting that her skills have definitely improved noticeably.