The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas A&M
No. 5 Texas A&M edges No. 1 Soccer, 2-0
10.12.2007 | Soccer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- An early first-half goal sparked a 2-0 win by No. 5 Texas A&M over top-ranked Texas in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown.
The Friday night game, played at the Aggie Soccer Complex in front of 5,552, was extremely physical. A total of 28 fouls were whistled and there were five yellow cards drawn in the contest. TAMU played with 10 players for 58 minutes as senior midfielder Allison Martino was issued a red card and ejected from the match at the 32 minute mark.
The Longhorns (9-2-2, 2-1-1 Big 12) drop their first conference match of the season. The loss also is the second setback on the road this fall and the squad's first loss since a 2-0 loss at Arizona on September 9. After that, the Longhorns went 6-0-2 prior to the loss to the Aggies.
Texas A&M (10-2-1, 4-1-0 Big 12) won their sixth home match of the year.
One of the Longhorns' cards resulted in the Aggie's second goal at the 72-minute mark. The card was issued to UT junior goalkeeper Dianna Pfenninger after a collision inside the 18-yard box with senior midfielder Melissa Garey.
Pfenninger (Sugar Land, Texas) was taken off the field after the collision and received stitches. Senior keeper Stephanie Connors (Carrollton, Texas) stood in goal for the resulting penalty kick by senior forward Ashlee Pistorius. Pistorius netted her 14th goal of the season on the PK.
Senior midfielder Amy Berend scored TAMU's first goal of the night just 5:53 into the game. She scored from six yards out and was assisted on the play by Pistorius and Garey.
The Longhorns had a few opportunities to tie the game. A streaking Stephanie Logterman, a junior from Austin, narrowly missed her first goal of the season, hitting the near post with a shot in the second half.
Freshman Kirsten Birkhold (Scottsdale, Ariz.) had a header in front of the goal that was saved by Arnold late in the second half.
Before leaving the game in the 72nd minute, Pfenninger (Sugar Land, Texas) allowed a single goal and netted five saves. Connors accumulated zero saves in the final 18 minutes of the match.
TAMU's Arnold tallied seven saves for her fifth shutout of the season.
The Longhorns continue their road trip at Baylor in Waco at 7 pm (CDT) on Sunday, Oct. 14.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Chris Petrucelli
On being a player ahead: We tried to get Stephanie Logterman forward more. We tried to get her high, in midfield and coming out of the back with the ball. I thought their front players were good and they had some speed up top. I was concerned about getting players forward and giving up counter.
On back up goalkeeper Stephanie Connors coming in for the penalty kick: Obviously the penalty was difficult especially with Ashlee (Pistorius) who is a great finisher. She made a couple of really good saves for us.
On fouls messing up rhythm: We hurt ourselves giving the ball up. When we lost possession, we had to foul so we were guilty of hurting ourselves more than the fouls.
