Mississippi’s Liza Harbin (26) and Texas A&M’s Janae Cousineau (11) go up to head the ball during an NCAA college soccer game in Oxford, Miss., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. Texas A&M won 2-1. (Photo/Thomas Graning)
The 10th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (9-1-1, 3-0-0 Southeastern Conference) traveled to Oxford and rallied from a goal down to defeat the Ole Miss Rebels (6-3-3, 1-1-2 SEC) 2-1 Sunday at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium.
Texas A&M controlled possession for most of the first half but was unable to put the ball in the back of the net, despite having seven shot attempts. Senior goalkeeper Kelly McCormick snuffed out attack after attack by the Aggies. Their high-pressing style kept the ball in the Rebels’ half of the field. Unable to maintain possession, the Rebels managed only one shot on goal, but sophomore forward and midfielder Addie Forbus sent her left-footed shot wide of senior goalkeeper Renee McDermott’s goal. The Aggies earned four corner kicks to the Rebels’ zero.
The Rebels made some halftime adjustments, and, from the opening whistle of the second half, the Rebels looked like a different team. They kept possession in the Texas A&M half of the field, culminating in junior defender and midfielder Maddie Friedmann’s first goal of the season in the 62nd minute. Freshman midfielder Courtney Carroll sent a corner kick into the box, and junior defender Jessica Hiskey got a touch on it before Friedmann headed it home.
“My job is to anticipate where the ball is going to go, and I saw that she was getting a flick on it, so I ran to the goalie and just got a little touch,” Friedmann said. “It was probably my first real goal since being on the team. It was exciting.”
The lead didn’t last long, however, as senior forward and midfielder Allie Bailey answered for Texas A&M. In the 72nd minute, Bailey took the ball at midfield and weaved her way to the top of the Ole Miss penalty box. She turned and curled a shot past an outstretched McCormick into the top corner of the net.
Just seven minutes later, senior forward and midfielder Shea Groom ran down the far side of the Ole Miss penalty box and slid one past McCormick from a tight angle along the touchline.
A furious Rebels’ rally with just seconds remaining came up short. A foul by the Aggies on sophomore forward Sara Coleman near the edge of their box gave the Rebels a great opportunity to tie the game late, but two Rebel shots glanced off the post, and time expired shortly after.
“We have to create more chances,” Ole Miss head coach Matthew Mott said. “I don’t think we’re clean enough up front. They’re a good team, and they’re not going to give you a lot. We just didn’t create enough today.”
Despite the tough loss against a top team, the Rebels are remaining positive.
“I think we took a big step,” Friedmann said. “We proved to everybody that we can hang in there with the best of them.”
The Rebels are back in action at Auburn at 7 p.m. Friday. Their next home game is Friday, Oct. 24. against Missouri at 7 p.m.
Christoph Ludwig
