Aug. 26, 2018

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – San Diego's defense was unable to keep pace with Texas A&M's offense and dropped a 3-0 decision Sunday night at Ellis Field.
 
Amber Michel did well to keep the Toreros (1-2-1) in the game, making five stops in goal. After permitting an early goal in the 6th minute, she kept the Aggies (4-0) off the board until they converted a penalty kick in the final five minutes of the match.
 
Michel's best save came in he 62nd minute, when she turned away a shot with a diving save to her right, off her fingertips. The Aggies' did not score again until the 85th minute with a penalty kick. Michel tried to stop Texas A&M's Addie McCain with a dive to the right side, but the ball was just out of reach and went to the back of the net.
 
The Aggies scored their final goal in the 87th minute off a free kick from 30 yards out.
 
The Toreros backline did its best to slow down the potent Texas A&M attack that generated 19 shots and seven corner kicks. Kelley Carusa made several crucial slide tackles to stop the Aggies. Her best of the night came in the first half, when she made a slide tackle in the box to force a shot by Texas A&M wide right of the post. Michaela Foster also made a great defensive play in the 38th minute to stop a drive by the Aggies offense. It was the New Zealand freshman's first time on the field for the Toreros.
 
USD's offense played tough and generated scoring opportunities, but could not find the back of the net. In the 44th minute, Kelsi Dantu had one of the Toreros' best opportunities to score, when she shot to the left side of the goal from the top of the box, but the Aggies' goalkeeper, Cossette Morche, made a diving save.
 
Katie Lapomarda came close to putting the Toreros on the board in the 59th minute. She got her foot on the ball six yards out, but it went straight into the arms of the Aggies' goalkeeper. Summer Mason and Milan Moses also helped up top, leading the team with three shots apiece
 
USD will play its home opener on Friday, after spending two weeks on the road. The Toreros play host to Utah Valley on Friday at 1 p.m. (PT) at Torero Stadium.