Corpus Christi, Texas - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi came up just short this Sunday in the first installment of the
Craig Shaw era. The Baylor Bears tallied a pair of goals in the latter half of the two teams' 90-minute exhibition match to come away with a 2-0 victory, in what was a highly contested duel from start to finish.
While both sides had offensive opportunities to start the night, the Islanders' play on the defensive end is what held the night's contest together through the first 20 minutes. Junior
Abbie Flax got the start between the pipes against the Bears, after transferring from Fort Hays State in the offseason, where she was recruited and coached by current Islanders Coach Shaw. The Kansas native opened her first performance at the Division I level with four consecutive first period saves and finished the night with six total stops and just a single goal against.
Flax' inspired play in the early stages helped keep the Blue and Green within striking distance, as the Islanders controlled play coming out of the first break. Freshman
Kayla Gove put up the Islanders' lone shot of the night during the second frame, after making an individual run of nearly 30 yards, but sent her strike just wide of the left post. Despite their improved offensive play in the second, Baylor's multitude of dead-ball chances were too much to overcome as the Bears' first tally came off their fourth corner of the night, in the 53rd minute.
With a deep bench of players to call upon in the third, the home side used possession in the remaining 20 minutes to help seal the game's final decision. After both team's were frustrated by missed opportunities, Baylor senior Aline De Lima found herself with the ball inside the Islanders box to put an insurance goal on the board, dashing the visitors' odds of a draw late in the 85th minute.
- The Islander's loss is their first against the Baylor Bears, and their first road loss in their past four road games
- Flax finished the night with six saves overall after playing the first and third periods, with freshman Kyleigh Hall grabbing one in her first appearance with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
- This is the third season in the Islanders' five-year history where the side has opened against a Big 12 opponent. Sunday's 2-0 decision is the club's tightest decision in those situations
- Six freshmen started for the Islanders against the Bears, as the team enters the season with its largest signing class since 2013
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- Go Islanders -
