 "Photo: Courtesy of The Battalion")
COLLEGE STATION - It took Texas 14 years to earn its first No. 1 ranking in soccer, but it only took Texas A&M 90 minutes to tarnish the achievement.
Despite playing with just 10 players for the final 58 minutes of the match, the fifth-ranked Aggies (10-2-1, 4-1-0) scored a goal in each half to upset the Longhorns 2-0 in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown.
"This is a real big win. Texas is a heck of a team, they are talented all over the park," said A&M coach G. Guerrieri. "Part of a team is that if you add up all the parts it should add up to more than 11. It should be everyone doing their job and half the other person's job."
Aggies' midfielder Allison Martino received a red card and was ejected from the match at the 32-minute mark, but the Longhorns were unable to capitalize on the advantage even though they took 10 shots in the second half.
"We tried to get Stephanie Logterman forward more. We tried to get her high, in midfield and coming out of the back with the ball," said Texas coach Petrucelli. "I thought their front players were good and they had some speed up top. I was concerned about getting players forward and giving up the counter [attack]."
Friday's loss snapped an eight-match unbeaten streak for the Longhorns (9-2-2, 2-1-1) while increasing A&M's record to 7-0 all-time versus Texas in College Station.
The rivalry match played like a game between the school's football teams with 28 fouls and five yellow cards issued, in addition to Martino's red card. A&M's second goal came on a penalty kick by forward Ashlee Pistorius after Longhorns goalkeeper Dianna Pfenninger collided with Aggies midfielder Melissa Garey in the 72 minute.
Pfenninger left the match to receive stitches as a result of the collision, prompting backup goalkeeper Stephanie Connors onto the pitch to defend the penalty kick.
"Obviously the penalty was difficult especially with Ashlee (Pistorius) who is a great finisher," Petrucelli said.
On offense, turnovers and fouls prevented Texas from establishing any consistent rhythm.
Forward Niki Arlitt (1), forward Kelsey Carpenter (3) and defender Kasey Moore (2) combined for six shots on goal, but A&M's goalkeeper Kristin Arnold earned seven saves and her fifth shutout of the season.
Just 5:53 into the game, assisted by Pistorius and Garey, A&M midfielder Amy Berend scored the Aggies first goal on a shot within the six-yard box.
"We talked about the way we were going to have to score was maybe not with our forwards but our midfield was going to have to get in there," Guerrieri said. "Melissa (Garey) did a great job of playing in a ball behind her and Amy (Berend) with the outside of her foot drove it into the far side netting. It was a really good goal. I thought Texas was in a good position; Amy (Berend) just stepped in and found a crease."
However, Petrucelli saw things differently.
"The early goal was the result of poor tactics by the coaches at Texas," Petrucelli said. "We made a bad choice in deciding to play three back and they punished us early."
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