University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
4-4-0
Texas A&M
7-1-1
Tennessee Falls To #11 Aggies In Rain, 3-0
September 18, 2014 | Soccer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas --With heavy rainfall throughout the first half, Tennessee struggled to find its offensive rhythm and fell to No. 11 Texas A&M, 3-0, on Thursday at Ellis Field.
Tennessee (4-4-0, 0-1-0 SEC) battled against a strong Texas A&M attack from start to finish on Thursday. The Aggies (7-1-1, 1-0-0 SEC) had a 26-5 shot advantage. Shea Groom had a hat trick for Texas A&M.
UT keeper Jamie Simmons (4-4-0) made nine saves in the loss.Texas A&M keeper Renee McDermott had two saves and improved to 7-1-1 on the season.
Texas A&M struck first in the 20th minute when Groom connected on a header in the six-yard box on a free kick by Karlie Mueller from outside the left side of the 18.
Tennessee's best look at a first-half goal was in the 24th minute when Wilkinson made a run up the left side and sent a low cross into the box. Texas A&M goalkeeper Renee McDermott dove for the ball, but the ball just missed Anna McClung for a shot on an open net.
UT had another good look at a goal in the 33rd minute when Michele Christy had a shot hit the crossbar.
Texas A&M had a 13-2 shot advantage in the first half with Groom and Kelley Monogue taking three each before the break.
The Aggies scored their second goal in the 59th minute when Groom knocked in a bouncing ball inside the six-yard box off a header assist by Janae Cousineau.
Tennessee had some standout defensive plays late in the game. In the 69th minute, UT was called for a foul inside the six-yard box while defending a corner kick. Groom took the penalty kick for the Aggies and Simmons made the save, diving to her left.
Gabby Santorio made a terrific save in the 70th minute, clearing a ball off the goal line.
Groom achieved the hat trick in the 89th minute, breaking past Santorio and a diving Simmons for a score on the left side of the net.
will next face ETSU on Sunday in Johnson City, Tenn., at 7 p.m. UT returns to Regal Soccer Stadium on Sept. 26 to host Alabama.
Team Stats
Groom, Shea (6)
Assisted By: Mueller, Karlie
Header in six-yard box on free kick from
19:10
Groom, Shea (7)
Assisted By: Cousineau, Janae , Brinson, Bianca
Brinson throw in, header by Cousineau, o
58:01
Groom, Shea (8)
Weaved through defense for 20 yards and
88:38
