Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Texas A&M
Tech Soccer Falls in Conference Opener 4-1
September 28, 2001 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 28, 2001
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech women's soccer team fell to Texas A&M, 4-1, Friday night in its Big 12 Conference opener at R.P. Fuller Stadium.
Tech (2-6, 0-1) looked to rally late in the first half as it put pressure on an Aggie defense that only allowed six shots in the game and two in the first period. The two Red Raider shots, in the first half, came back-to-back as senior Melanie Brosnahan's shot in the 39th minute was blocked and Carrie Graham found the rebound and buried her team leading fifth goal on the season cutting the Aggie lead to 3-1.
A&M (4-2, 1-0) got on the board in the 5th minute of play when Michelle Royal scored an unassisted goal that beat Tech keeper Brittney Peese low to the left. Johnson followed with her sixth goal, in as many games, in the 19th minute of play while Jessica Martin scored on a free kick from 50 yards out that sailed over an out-stretched Peese, giving A&M a 3-1 lead at the half.
The loss may prove to be a costly one for the Red Raiders as late in the first half Graham went down with what is being called a knee sprain. She will be re-evaluated tomorrow, but according to Tech soccer coach Felix Oskam it looks serious and she will not play Sunday against Texas. Sophomore Catie Arsenault suffered a mild concussion in the first half and was able to start the second stanza, only to be pulled due to dizziness, her status is listed as day-to-day.
Oskam was pleased with the way his team never quite after being down 3-0 early. "We played with them, but when we get a free ball we need to keep it and not give it away," said Oskam. "I felt like Brittney [Peese] played a tremendous second half, and really kept us in the game."
Tech will have to regroup quickly as it plays Texas, Sunday, 1 p.m. at R.P. Fuller Stadium. Texas downed Colorado in its conference opener 3-2, and enters the game with a 2-3 overall record.
