CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Tarleton State soccer teams couldn't get past each other as the programs ended in a 0-0 tie Sunday at the Dr. Jack Dugan Soccer and Track & Field Stadium.
It is the second straight tie for both teams, as the Islanders (0-0-2) opened the season with a 1-1 draw versus North Dakota. It is the first season in program history that the Islanders began with a pair of ties.
Tarleton State (0-0-2) outshot the Islanders 8-7 but the latter had six of their attempts on target while the Texans had just three on goal.
"We played a very disciplined team today, they showed a lot of grit and followed their game plan effectively," said head coach
Daniel Clitnovici. "This was a good road tie for them. For us, we never really got going. Our first half we struggled to break them down and it didn't give us much offense. Defensively, we showed some good signs but we don't want to sit back and defend on home turf. We showed some improvements in the second half but we ultimately couldn't generate enough quality in the final attacking third. We will take the tie and move into a week of practice before Sam Houston."
Neither team could convert on openings barely given with both keepers denying the few shots taken in the game. Senior
Zoe Theriot played all 90 minutes in the net and made three saves, including back-to-back ones in the second half to shut the Texans down.
It is Theriot's first shutout of the season, and third of her career. It comes after she made a career-high 11 saves in the season opener last Thursday against North Dakota.
Freshman
Maddy Howells took three shots herself, all coming on goal for the first-year. Freshman
Cilia Leal also took a shot just grabbed by the Texans' goalie. Leal was the lone scorer in the opening game of the season for the Islanders.
The Islanders, still searching for the first victory of the season and of head coach
Daniel Clitnovici's first year at the helm, will get another chance for it to come at home when they host Sam Houston next Sunday at 1 p.m. back at the Dugan Stadium.
Photos of the game can be viewed
here.
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