Match #16: Texas A&M 0, No. 8 South Carolina 0
Records: Texas A&M (5-6-5, 2-5-2), South Carolina (10-2-5, 4-1-4)
Box Score
On Sunday evening in Columbia, Texas A&M faced No. 8 South Carolina in its last away match in the regular season, claiming a crucial point in the Southeastern Conference standings.
Coming off a significant win this past Friday vs. Missouri, the Aggies were extremely uplifted to secure another win. However, they ended up securing a scoreless draw.
“I am proud of our players,” A&M head coach G Guerreri said. “These women have stepped up time after time, and despite all the injuries to some key players, the next woman steps up and just puts everything she has into it.”
Entering the match, both teams came in with a highly offensive mindset. Within the first two minutes, they each got a shot on goal, establishing an early attack for the game.
The Aggies came out hard not only offensively, but defensively too, making it more challenging for the Gamecocks to take possession of the ball.
From the start, Aggie midfielder Trinity Buchanan made efforts to help her team attack, but heavily emphasized her presence in the midfield, taking control of A&M’s possessions.
Similarly, Kaylee Noble kept the left side of the field very active, constantly using her speed to take the ball down the line in hopes of creating a scoring opportunity for her team.
Competitiveness rose, and in the 24th minute of the game, A&M defender Hattie Patterson received the first yellow card of the game.
Less than ten minutes later, the Gamecocks’ Taylor Bloom received the Gamecocks’ first yellow card and second of the match. A total of eight fouls were recorded during the first half, four on each team.
South Carolina did an excellent job of keeping up with the aggressiveness of the Aggies, keeping composed and well-balanced, especially in the midfield.
Despite the Aggies outshooting the Gamecocks, 5-2, the first half ended scoreless.
Coming out of a silent half, both teams made substitutions in hopes of getting some goals in the back of the net.
The Aggies took an even more offensive approach to the match, continuing that sense of urgency and hunger to score. Thus, forcing the Gamecocks to have players deeper in the field.
This allowed South Carolina to have more people behind the ball when those quick turnovers occurred.
In the 53rd minute of the game, South Carolina was able to move the ball quickly and accurately, passing the ball to their left forward, Anna Young, who created the most real scoring opportunity for the Gamecocks at that point in this match.
Following Young’s scoring opportunity, Bloom missed her header slightly off the right side of the goal.
Twenty minutes into the second half, new players were subbed into the match, making the game a more dynamic one, with a fresh sense of energy.
Possession shifted evenly between both teams, creating a back-and-forth attack sequence between each side.
The high attack from both teams in the second half made the second frame much more physical than the first.
In the 85th minute, there were a total of nine fouls, with two being yellow cards. One given to the Gamecocks, and one to the Aggies.
With ten minutes left in the match, the score still 0-0, the Aggies tried to regroup and run the ball forward in an attempt to take a lead. Multiple services were shot into the box; however, they were missing bodies in the box to finish those services.
“To go onto the road and get a point against another top-10 team is a testament to how hard these guys work,” Guerrieri said. “We really had some great chances that could have won it with a better bounce.”
Lots of attack and action took place within this match from both the home side and away side. However, scoring was unlucky for either. The Aggies and Gamecocks played a fierce and competitive scoreless draw.
“Next Sunday will be a champion Sunday for us because it is everything to play for,” G Guerrieri said.
The Aggies have one more chance to secure a spot in the SEC Tournament.
A&M will play its last home game of the regular season against Kentucky next Sunday at Ellis Field. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. CT.
