Islanders Close Preseason On Erdmann Game Winner

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi put an end to their preseason with a bang, after late-match heroics from redshirt-senior Brooke Erdmann secured a 1-0 Islanders win at St. Edward's. 

The opening period of the two side's first fall meeting in program history was a defensive struggle as the Islanders and Hilltoppers felt each other out in the beginning 30 minutes. Freshman keeper Kyleigh Hall got her first-ever start as a member of the Blue and Green as she and the Islander defense limited St. Edward's to just a single scoring chance to start. The Islanders appeared poised to take an early lead after a cross from Kayla Gove found its way into the box in front of a yawning net, but was cleared away to keep the event scoreless at the break. 

The match pace picked up during the second term as the Islanders began controlling the pace of play. The Blue and Green held possession throughout the beginning of the period, creating multiple chances off of set pieces and control in the offensive zone. Abbie Flax picked up her seventh save of the preseason in the second before she was relieved by sophomore Kendall Moody at the second break, giving the transfer a team-high in stops for the preseason.

After 25 more minutes of scoreless play it looked as though Corpus Christi would be taking home a draw, before the Islanders created multiple chances in the final five minutes of play. After a flurry of attempts on goal bore no fruit, a deflected header from Erdmann found its way into the back of the net with the scoreboard reading just under 20 seconds remaining. The Islander's active career leader in goals (6) and games played (54) gave her side its only goal of the preseason, and registered a winning decision for the Islanders heading toward the regular season.

The Blue and Green will open the regular season in Houston this Sunday against the Rice Owls at 6 p.m., starting a stretch of three straight road matches in August.

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