AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's soccer team played its lone tune-up match ahead of the 2016 campaign on Friday night against the Texas Longhorns. The Islanders used all 14 available field players in a 3-0 defeat to the Longhorns.
Head coach
Shanna Caldwell's starting XI featured six returning players and five newcomers, including freshmen
Karla Kedenburg,
Madeleine Lozano and
Ashley Hamilton. Junior-transfer
Jordan Wainwright got the start between the pipes for the Blue and Green.
The game broke into a tale of two halves, as Texas went on the attack early. Wainwright was called upon on three occasions within the opening 10 minutes of the match. The Live Oak, Fla., native finished the match with 5 saves in 90 minutes of action.
Texas recorded 21 shots in the match, with 15 coming in the first half. The Longhorns pounced on a pair of defensive-half turnovers to take a 2-0 lead after the first 45 minutes of play.
In the second half, A&M-Corpus Christi went on the attack.
Shayla Spearman provided speed on the flanks, leading to the only shot on goal in the match for the Blue and Green. The Islanders tallied three shots, two from Spearman and one from
Kaitlyn Joy.
For Texas, Olivia Brook led the way with a pair of goals, and Taylor Braun, the final of three Longhorn goalkeepers, recorded the lone save.
POSTGAME NOTES
• The Islanders proved their match fitness against the Longhorns. Eight players topped the 70-minute mark for the Blue and Green.
• Shot stopper
Jordan Wainwright became the first junior to start a game, exhibition or regular season, in net for the Islanders.
• Caldwell rotated several players from their traditional positions in 2015.
Kallyn Redona featured primarily in central defense,
Mariah Olivé played in the midfield and
Meghan Cordero started up front.
COACH'S CORNER
Caldwell's Match Thoughts
We're closing the gap and the score when we play Texas. I'm just happy to get a 90-minute game in. In the first half, we didn't understand tactically when we really needed to do, defensively to maintain possession of the ball. We made an adjustment at halftime, and the difference of shots was huge. We saw some great individual play. The fact that the kids are fighting for each other, as a coach, is what you want to see.
Caldwell on the Newcomers
Karla was huge for us. She's just so calm and composed. I think she's just going to settle us down in the back. She's been in America two weeks, she's done well for us and her communication is only going to get better. Lozano and Hamilton in the middle, two freshmen going almost 90 minutes, played well. I thought everyone on the roster had a good night.
Practice Plans Leading to Season Opener
We have the skeleton of what we need done in the preseason. From this point on, we're adding meat to it. We will continue to work on how to move the ball and maintain our shape, while shoring up the little passes we need to make.
STAY SOCIAL
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- Go Islanders -
