LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi soccer team earned a crucial point on the road in its match on Thursday evening, getting an early score to help draw even with McNeese by a final score of 1-1.
After an even run of play over the first portion of the opening half, the Islanders (4-8-5, 2-4-3 SLC) secured their first promising opportunity of the night in the 13
th minute, making a run into Cowgirls (4-9-4, 3-3-2) territory that resulted in a corner kick from the near side of the field. Junior
Ashley Wilson was tasked with taking the attempt on the restart, and she proceeded to send it all the way into the back of the net by herself, banging home an incredible Olimpico goal to put the team out ahead. This was Wilson's first goal of the season and her fifth point in just the last six games, continuing her excellent form in Southland Conference play.
Now holding the advantage, A&M-Corpus Christi tried to repeat its last contest against UTRGV on Sunday and add on more before halftime, first getting a shot on goal in the form of a rocket from long distance by senior
Mai-Lisa Atis just two minutes later and then controlling the possession battle as the first half ran on. This pressure did not result in any more goals, though, and with just three minutes left on the clock, McNeese managed to put in the equalizer off a corner of its own on the other end to make it a 1-1 game heading into the break.
The final 45 minutes went similarly to the start of the match, as both squads played each other very tightly in an effort to find the elusive go-ahead goal. The best stretch for the Islanders came in a span of five minutes near the middle of the half, when they were able to draw another corner and got off three separate shots from Atis, freshman
MyJoi Anderson and redshirt senior
Madison Page that were just off the mark. After this, A&M-Corpus Christi was able to hold strong defensively, allowing just a trio of off-target shots the rest of the way and keeping the Cowgirls off the board to secure the important road point.
The stat sheet ended up reflecting how things played out on the field, with the Islanders outshooting McNeese 13-9 and taking one more corner kick when things were all said and done. Wilson's goal was the biggest spark to the offense, and beyond that, both Atis and Page paced the team in shots with three apiece. In net, sophomore
Jessie Spurrell conceded a new season-low in goals with just one while managing to notch a save on a try on net just six minutes into the match.
The Islanders will now return home for their final game of the 2025 regular season next Thursday, hosting UIW in Corpus Christi for a match that projects to have massive implications toward the Southland Conference standings.
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