Young Aggies pick up first win, beat No. 9 Clemson in home opener, 3-1

The No. 21 Aggies were able to pull out with a 3-1 win Friday night against previously undefeated No. 9 Clemson in their return to Ellis Field. Marking the first athletic event at A&M this year, the victory wraps up the Aggies’ three-game slate against top-10 teams to open the campaign.

The Aggies established a strong front defensively early on, with two saves from junior goalkeeper Kenna Caldwell in the fourth and 17th minutes, respectively. 

The young A&M team got out to a quick start offensively after two early shots.

Tomas Romo, TexAgs

Barbara Olivieri found the score sheet twice on Saturday night, tallying a goal and an assist in the Aggie victory.

After maintaining an up-tempo pace throughout the opening minutes, freshman Mia Pante put A&M on the board with the first goal of her collegiate career just before the 18th-minute mark on a wonderful pass by senior Macie Kolb. 

“There are no words to describe it,” said Pante. “Macie Kolb played a brilliant ball into the box, and I knew where I was in the net, and I just needed to redirect it. There are so many emotions running through me right now."

Soon after, both sides found themselves in an aggressive match.

Despite multiple advances past midfield by Clemson, the Aggies held firm defensively and held the Tigers to just two shot attempts in the first half.

In the second half, the Aggies quickly fell into their same tight offensive flow from the first half with a shot attempt just over the top by Maile Hayes right before the 50-minute mark. Both the Tigers and Aggies exchanged shots as Clemson began to find some rhythm offensively. 

Following a four-player substitution, the Tigers equaled the Aggies in the 63rd minute with a goal from freshman forward Renee Lyles.

Despite conceding the tying goal, A&M quickly regained their lead thanks to sophomore Barbara Olivieri, scoring off an assist from Pante just 66 seconds after the Lyles marker.

The Tigers attempted to fire back at the Aggies with two quick shot attempts but failed to convert on wide kicks falling out the box.

In the 80th minute, Olivieri assisted sophomore Kate Colvin for an insurance goal to give the Aggies a comfortable lead with just under 11 minutes remaining in the match.

Coming home to Ellis Field to find A&M’s first win of the season after a tough road stretch, head coach G Guerrieri was happy to be welcomed back home with impressive performances from both the young players on the team and the Aggie fans in the crowd. 

“If you were looking at our starting lineup as it was freshman, sophomore, freshman, sophomore. It’s a special experience especially for our young players to really have their arms wrapped around them by the 12th Man,” said Guerrieri. “Clemson is a dynamite team. They’re incredibly well-coached, organized, and for us to come out and play as well as we did in front of such a huge crowd is really special.”

The Aggies will continue their current homestand Friday night as they take on Sam Houston.