Late Goal Lifts #14 A&M Past KU

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Melissa Garey’s third goal of the match with 2:22 seconds remaining lifted #14 Texas A&M over the University of Kansas, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. KU’s record stands at 5-4-1 and 1-1-0 in the Big 12 while Texas A&M improves to 7-1-1 and 2-0-0 in conference play.

“We played very, very well,” commented head coach Mark Francis. “It was a tough game, back and fourth, and really could of gone either way.”

The Aggies scored the matches first goal when Garey rose above the KU defense to head in her seventh goal of the season. Laura Robinson and Ashlee Pistorius recorded the assists.

KU came back when Michelle Rasmussen notched her first goal of the season. The junior picked up a deflected ball and beat preseason All-Big 12 goalkeeper, Kati Jo Spisak, on a one-on-one situation.

Texas A&M opened the second half with a goal in the 58th-minute. Garey buried the ball into the back of the net from five-yards out.

Senior All-American Caroline Smith tied the match when she scored her fifth goal of the season in the 69th-minute. Rasmussen fed a streaking Smith who beat a sprawling Spisak to her right.

After Garey recorded a hat trick to give A&M a 3-2 lead, Caroline Smith quickly broke into the Aggies defense with under two minutes remaining. Smith’s hard shot that would have tied the match sailed just wide.

KU out-shot the Aggies, 8-7, in the first half but A&M held an 11-6 edge in the second half. KU’s sophomore goalkeeper Colleen Quinn recorded three saves as did Spisak.

Kansas will continue Big 12 play on Friday, Sept. 30, with a road trip to Lincoln to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Kick off is set for 4 p.m.

For more post-match comments from Mark Francis, call the Kansas Soccer Hotline at (785) 864-7700.