Kansas Soccer Falls to No. 24 Texas A&M 3-0
Postmatch Interviews: Coach Francis | Hillis
LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 24 Texas A&M showed why it is one of the top offensive teams in the nation as the country’s goal leader defeated the University of Kansas 3-0 in Sunday’s soccer action.
Just one game removed from a contest in which the Jayhawks collected three goals in a double-overtime win versus Texas, KU could not find the offensive answer it needed versus TAMU as it fell to 8-5 on the season, including 1-2 in the Big 12. The Aggies improved their overall mark to 9-5 along with a 3-1 league record.
Junior Whitney Berry and freshman Jamie Fletcher led Kansas with four shots apiece. As a team, KU tallied 16 shots, just shy of TAMU’s total of 20. Texas A&M leads the Big 12 averaging nearly 23 shots per game.
The Aggies first scored in the ninth minute when Merritt Mathias sent a low shot into the opposite corner from about 15 yards out. TAMU would strike again in the first half during the 33rd minute as Allie Bailey was on the other end of a pass across the goal mouth to score from close range.
Berry, Fletcher and sophomore Amy Grow combined for six of the team’s seven first half shots but Grow’s two attempts were the only shots on frame.
KU’s defense limited Texas A&M to eight shots in the final 45 minutes. Despite controlling the offensive advantage in the second half and putting four of its nine shots on goal, the Jayhawks still could not get on the scoreboard.
With two minutes remaining in the game, Fletcher had one of KU’s better chances of the game with a free kick just outside the box. Her shot sailed over the Aggies’ line of defenders and then dipped back down into the goal but TAMU goalkeeper Jordan Day was there to make her sixth save of the day.
Texas A&M added its last goal of the match on a penalty kick from Kelley Monogue in the 83rd minute.
Prior to the game, KU honored former Jayhawks Meghan Miller, Caroline Smith and Holly Gault by retiring their jerseys.
Kansas will be back in action next weekend with a pair of games. The Jayhawks first wrap up a four-game homestand versus Baylor on Friday, Oct. 7 before heading to Creighton on Sunday, Oct. 9 for a non-conference match.
