No. 15 Vols Take 3-1 Win At Texas A&M
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 15 Tennessee picked up its third-straight SEC win and improved its overall record to 10-1-0 on Friday, defeating No. RV Texas A&M at Ellis Field, 3-1.
The Texas native, redshirt-sophomore
Jaida Thomas, tallied two goals on the night, including the game-winner. Senior
Mackenzie George rounded out the scoring, notching her second goal of the season. In goal, junior Lindsay Romig recorded five saves on the night.
Carissa Boeckmann was the goal scorer for Texas A&M (5-6-1, 1-3-0 SEC). The loss was the third-straight conference loss for the Aggies, who were picked to finish first in a tie with Arkansas in the SEC Preseason Poll as voted on by the league's coaches. It also marked the first four-game losing streak in TAMU program history.
"Texas A&M is a good team," said Tennessee head coach
Brian Pensky. "They're going to win more big games this season. So, coming in here and beating them is a big deal. It says a lot about our kids, especially after going down a goal in the second half. We're good team; but most importantly, we're a tough team. We're a mature team, and our kids just want to win."
Tennessee dominated possession in the opening minutes of the game, getting off two shots and three corner kicks in the first 25 minutes while not giving up any on the other end.
The Aggies got their best look of the half in the 38th minute, getting one shot on goal from close range that was saved by Romig and another that bounced off the crossbar.
Sophomore
Lawson Renie closed out the half by getting a header on a corner kick, but missed just wide, sending the game into halftime tied, 0-0.
Texas A&M struck first in the second half with Boeckmann placing one in the side net off an assist from Jai Smith in the 53rdminute.
The Vols wasted no time countering, tying it up two minutes later when George found Thomas streaking into the box. Thomas got a foot on it and deflected it off the crossbar and into the net.
Thomas found the goal again in the 62nd minute, burying a header far-post off a cross by junior
Claudia Dipasupil.
George added a third for insurance at the 75-minute mark when Renie got a head on a corner and directed it at George who headed it over the keeper and into the back of the net.
UP NEXT: The Vols return home to host Florida in a 7 p.m. matchup on Thursday. The contest will be streamed on SECN+.
HAPPY TO ASSIST:
Mackenzie George has logged assists in five straight games, racking up a team-high seven on the season.
COMEBACK KIDS: After coming back from 1-0 to win 3-1 at TAMU, the Vols have come from behind to win three games in a row.
SECOND HALF TEAM: With three second-half goals against the Aggies, Tennessee has outscored opponents 22-3 after halftime this season.