STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Concluding its six-game road swing on a high note, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi extended its unbeaten streak to three after beating Tarleton State 3-1 on Thursday evening at the Tarleton Soccer Complex.
The Islanders led 2-0 at the intermission after goals by freshmen
Ashley Wilson and
Taylor Thibodeau. After Tarleton scored on a penalty kick, A&M-Corpus Christi put it away on a header by junior
Rachel Loetzer.
"The fight and togetherness of this team is incredible. We are playing with numerous injuries and major sicknesses but everyone just steps up for each other," said head coach
Craig Shaw. "Can't wait to play in front of our fans next week."
Junior
Kaitlynn Melton was credited with assists on all three goals, becoming the first student-athlete in Islanders history to record three assists in a game. The first came after she won a 50/50 ball cleanly and found Wilson streaking down the center of the pitch. Wilson beat the keeper with her left foot into the lower right corner in the 37th minute.
Just minutes later, Melton broke free on the right wing and centered a pass to Thibodeau who also scored a left footer into the lower right corner. They were the first career goals for Wilson and Thibodeau.
Tarleton cut into the deficit 2-1 in the 71st minute after being awarded a penalty kick. The goal came just out of reach of junior
Zoe Theriot on a shot into the lower left side.
A&M-Corpus Christi put the game away in the 82nd minute on a corner kick. Loetzer's aerial attack was finished into the bottom left side for her second goal of the season.
The Islanders controlled the entire game and outshot TSU 21-10, including 15-3 in shots on goal. Junior
Storm Harris fired a team-high seven shots with four on goal.
Theriot made her first start of the season and earned the win in net. The Islanders were without both Southland Conference Player of the Week winners
Kennedy Stelling and
Maggie Murray.
It was the first-ever regular season meeting between A&M-Corpus Christi and Tarleton.
Up next, the Islander return home Thursday to host UTRGV at 7 p.m. at Dugan Stadium in the South Texas Showdown, presented by Rally Credit Union.
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