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LAREDO, Texas – Rainy and wet conditions washed Texas A&M International’s home opener into a sour result at the TAMIU Soccer Complex on Friday against St. Mary’s. The Rattlers stole the Heartland Conference opening game 3-0, with all their tallies falling in the second half.
The Dustdevils (0-6-0, 0-1-0 Heartland Conference) held strong from their central backline of Laura Twinem and Paige Johnson throughout the initial 45 minutes. But a cascade of crosses into the Dustdevils’ 18-yard box came thundering into play, with the first finding the net in the 56th minute.
After the midfield struggle of a first half, St. Mary’s (3-3-1, 1-0-0) smoked the TAMIU touchlines and sent dangerous through balls toward goalkeeper Christina Morales’ net. Despite allowing the three goals, she completed six saves on 13 total shots –nine on frame.
It was Briana Shafer’s headed shot that first found the nylon. Lynsie Shaw delivered a height-right pass to Shafer’s forehead, which nodded the ball off the crossbar and into Morales’ goal.
Katy Belew launched the second successful offensive, this time off a free kick from about 35 yards out in the 79th minute.
Kristal Williams closed the match with a connection from Katie Kasperitis in the 84th minute off a corner kick.
Tempers flared in the 81st minute when TAMIU’s Sam Zerilli and St. Mary’s Leah Snelson tangled near the TAMIU bench. Snelson threw the ball in Zerilli’s direction, prompting a straight-red card ejection for the flare. Zerilli received a yellow card for her role in the affair, but TAMIU took an 11-on-10 player advantage.
It had little effect, though, as the Dustdevils mustered only seven shots – with five on goal.
The Dustdevils return to action on Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. when Rogers State visits the TAMIU Soccer Complex for a Heartland Conference clash.
