Texas A&M Soccer takes over in second half, shuts out DePaul, 2-0

On a sweltering September afternoon, the Texas A&M soccer team shut out DePaul, 2-0. Though the first half was quiet, the Aggies took over after the break.

Both teams played aggressively during the first half of the game, neither squad could gain an edge. With 37 minutes left in the first half, A&M took a shot, but it was saved by the DePaul goalkeeper. Not long after, a DePaul shot missed high. By the end of the half, Ally Watt had two shots on goal, and Claudette Lassandro had one.

As halftime started, the Aggies headed off to the locker, and coach Guerrieri got ready to prepare them for the second half.

“All our discussion was about at halftime was not about changing who we were, just changing the level of effort that we wanted to put into it,” Guerrieri said of his halftime speech.

Only a few minutes into the second half, Ally Watt took a shot and scored. Cienna Arrieta was credited with the assist. The momentum of the game changed, and there was a new energy on the field. With 40:11 left in the game, DePaul shot high, and A&M goalkeeper Olivia Ausmus was able to jump and hit the ball upwards over the net, keeping the Aggie lead at one goal.

Grace Piper was issued a yellow card with 16:05 left in the game. Piper went for a leaping kick and ended up kicking DePaul Elizabeth Endy in the head. Endy had to be carried off the field.

The Aggies didn’t let the yellow card or injury throw them off course and continued to play with high energy. Their determination paid off as Mikaela Harvey fired a shot into DePaul’s net, doubling A&M’s lead, 2-0.

“For the rest of the half, I thought our girls did a tremendous job keeping the game under control, and there was a spectacular goal for Mikaela to get the insurance goal to make it 2-0,” Guerrieri said.

The Aggies held the Blue Demons scoreless for the final ten minutes, winning, 2-0.