Box Score Corpus Christi – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's soccer team lost at Houston on Sunday afternoon 4-0. The Islanders trailed 1-0 at halftime, but three second half goals for the Cougars was too much for the Islanders to overcome in their final non-conference match.
"There are a lot good things that came out of the game today," said head coach Shanna Caldwell. "We tried a couple of players in some different roles, and they had positive responses to the challenge. We had some great early pressure and possession that we weren't able to capitalize on, and then a quick turnover that Houston pounced on and converted gave them an energy lift.
"Conference starts next week and it's a clean slate for us," Caldwell added. "We need to keep our heads up and know that the little mistakes are correctable. We control our fate with this fresh start. We have to keep the energy high, and we know that we are very capable of doing that."
Goalkeeper Megan Delaney made a double-save in the 11th minute for the Islanders to keep the game level. The Cougars had a forward played in on goal, but the Las Vegas native denied a shot on the ground, before collecting another shot from the rebound. We control our fate with this fresh start. We have to keep the energy high, and we are very capable of that."
The Islanders switched to the attack in the 13th minute, when Hailey Sutton's shot found the side netting from the right side of the box. Nanna Poulsen forced Cougar goalkeeper Jordan Brown to charge off her line to clear, after the Danish international beat her marker and was in on goal in the 16th.
Lexa Green put the hosts ahead in the 24th minute, the senior received a pass from Tiffani Echeverria on the right side of the box and finished past a diving Delaney.
Throughout the first half, Delaney and Jessica Berdan sent long free kicks into the box that created trouble for the Cougar backline, but the Islanders were unable to convert the chances into goals. The score would remain 1-0 in favor of the hosts when the teams entered the halftime break.
Six minutes into the second half, Houston picked up their second goal of the match from Vanessa Almaguer. The sophomore found the top-left corner of the goal with a shot from outside the box.
In the 63rd minute, Gabrielle Rodriguez crossed the ball into the box for Houston. Delaney managed to tip the cross, but the ball fell to Almaguer on the back post for her second goal of the match for the Cougars.
16 minutes from time Houston added a fourth goal. The Cougars caught the Islanders on the attack. Delaney deflected a shot from Green, but Claire Salazar tapped in the rebound at the back post.
The Islanders recorded six shots in the match, each from a different player. Meghan Cordero had the only shot on goal for A&M-Corpus Christi. Delaney finished with five saves in the match.
Jacey Love returned to the starting lineup after missing the last three games due to injury. The Islanders were without Kallyn Redona, who missed the match through suspension for a red card picked up against UT-Rio Grande Valley last weekend.
A&M-Corpus Christi will begin Southland Conference play next Friday on the road at 7 P.M. against Abilene Christian. The match next weekend starts a three-game road trip for the Islanders.
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