FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas women’s soccer team put up a valiant effort against the No. 6 Texas A&M on Senior Day at Razorback Field, but two second half goals by the Aggies would prove too much to overcome as the Razorbacks dropped their 2014 regular season home finale 2-1 on Friday night.
In a physical Southeastern Conference game that featured 18 fouls and four yellow cards, it was the No. 6-ranked team in the nation (14-2-1, 8-1-0 SEC) that prevailed thanks to a pair of second half goals to fend off a determined Razorback (7-5-5, 3-3-3 SEC) squad, who was celebrating the graduating of nine players.
After playing to a scoreless tie in the first half, the Aggies broke through with the game’s first goal in the 64th minute with a Janae Cousineau goal from 25-yards out. A&M added its second goal just eight minutes later as Annie Kunz blasted a shot that squeezed through the hands of Arkansas goalkeeper Cameron Carter to roll in for a score.
Despite the late two-goal deficit Arkansas struck back with a score of its own in the 85th minute, as junior Lindsey Mayo kicked the ball off the bottom of the crossbar to have it bounce in the goal to keep hope of a comeback alive.
Arkansas would be unable to find the equalizer in the final five minutes, as the SEC-leading Aggies were able to collect the 2-1 win.
It was an extremely physical first half, as both squads committed a combined 12 fouls and two yellow cards, with Arkansas collecting both yellows and racking up seven fouls in the first half.
The Arkansas defense survived a furious attack from the Aggies, as A&M collected 10 shots in the opening 45 minutes, but did not have a goal to show for the effort. Sophomore keeper Cameron Carter denied Texas A&M five times in the half. Her five saves were the most she has made in the first frame this year.
The No. 6 Aggies did not let up on its attack in the second half, as they had a golden opportunity at a goal in the 57th minute, as Kelley Moore took a wide open shot inside the 18-yard box. Fortunately for Arkansas, the attempt rolled wide right to keep the game in a scoreless tie.
The Aggies snapped the tie in the 64th minute with a goal from Janae Cousineau. The goal was set up after Bianca Brinson took the ball deep into the right corner of the 18 and dropped the ball off to a sprinting Cousineau, who launched a shot in stride from 25 yards out. The ball was able to squeeze through a small opening between Carter and the crossbar right in the middle of the goal to give A&M the 1-0 lead.
Texas A&M posted its second goal of the night in the 71st minute, as Annie Kunz’ shot from two yards inside the 18 rolled past Carter and into the net. Carter seemed to be in position to make the save on the rolling shot, but at the last second the ball took a tricky hop and got beneath the keeper’s hands to give Kunz the unassisted goal.
Arkansas cut its deficit in half in the 85th minute with a Mayo goal off of a corner kick from senior Tyler Allen.
Allen fired the free kick into the box and found the head of junior Ashleigh Ellenwood. The forward sent ball back into the air as Mayo came sprinting into the six-yard box to get a foot on the landing. The Gallatin, Tenn., native knocked the ball off the bottom of the crossbar and into the goal for her second goal of the season.
The comeback effort would fall short however, as the Aggies were able to withstand the late charge from the Razorbacks as they picked up the 2-1 win and three points to remain in first place in the SEC.
Despite giving up a pair of goals, Carter was still able to pick up eight saves in the effort, as Texas A&M outshot Arkansas, 19-11.
The Razorbacks will now embark on a two-game road trip to wrap up the 2014 season, traveling to Mississippi State and Missouri. Arkansas will first travel to Starkville, Miss., for a showdown with the Bulldogs on Oct. 26. Kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m. and will be televised on the SEC Network+ via ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN App.
POSTGAME NOTES
- The Razorbacks are now 14-14-1 all-time in regular season home finales.
- The loss puts Arkansas at 31-23-6 in the Colby Hare era.
- In 33 SEC games under Hale, Arkansas is now 14-15-4.
- Arkansas is 59-126-17 all-time in SEC games.
- The Razorbacks are now 19-10-2 in 31 home games under Hale.
- Arkansas is 103-89-15 all-time at Razorback Field.
- The loss puts the Razorbacks record at home this season at 5-3-1.
- Texas A&M now holds a 5-5-1 advantage in the all-time series.
- Arkansas is now 2-3-0 against A&M in Fayetteville and 0-2-0 at Razorback Field.
- The Razorbacks are now 3-8-0 against Top 25 teams under Hale and 0-4-0 this season against the Top 25.
- Lindsay Mayo’s goal marks her second goal of the season and the eighth of her career.
- With her assist tonight, junior Ashleigh Ellenwood now has 67 career points, to give her sole possession of fifth place on the school’s all-time points list.
- The assist was also the 17th of Ellenwood’s career putting her in a tie for second on the school’s all-time assist list with Alexis Hyrup (1992-96) and teammate Tyler Allen.
- It was also the ninth assist this season for Ellenwood this season, putting her in a tie for third on the school’s single-season assist list.
- Tyler Allen’s assist marks her sixth of the season and the 17th of her career to put her in a tie for second on the school’s all-time assist list with Alexis Hyrup (1992-96) and teammate Ashleigh Ellenwood.
- Tonight’s game marks the 78th match that Allen has appeared in for Arkansas, putting her just two games shy of tying the school’s all-time games played record of 80.
- Tonight’s attendance of 1,307 marks the seventh time in eight home games this season that Arkansas has eclipsed the 1,000 attendance mark.
Senior SAM WOLF
On Senior Night
“As a freshman, I think you go in and think your senior year is going to be forever away. In the blink of an eye, it’s here. Having eight more seniors with me, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
On what her career at Arkansas has meant
“I was kind of reflecting earlier and just thinking about everything we have been through as a team. I am almost speechless, just because of how hard everyone has worked to get to where we are today. I couldn’t ask for a better group.”
On moving forward
“We have to go out and do what we do best. In the next game, move forward. Tonight is over with and done. Just do the best we can on Sunday.”
HEAD COACH COLBY HALE
On the game
“I thought we were good. In the second half we were good and created some chances. The first goal, they hit a one-timer, a shot from 30 yards out. That doesn’t happen often but soccer is a fun game. We love the fight we had in our team. Never gave up until the end.”
On opportunities
“We created a couple chances in the opening minutes of the game. We knew we were going to get chances. We liked our attack. I thought we did a good job of limiting their scoring chances, by doing a good job of defending in the box.”
On looking forward to Sunday
“They are all the same. It’s the most important one of the season because it’s the next one. We do not look at too much other than that. Prepare for a good Mississippi State team and be ready to go.”