COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KRHD) — Ireland Churchill and Trinity Buchanan each scored 2 goals and added an assist in the win. Finley Walker and Ava Sexton also found the back of the net. The Aggies finished with 32 shots, 15 on goal, while holding Sam Houston to just 2 shots on goal.
It marked the first regular season home opener with a new head coach since 1993. Head coach Bobby Shuttleworth's squad came into the match 1-2 after opening the season with 3 road games.
"It's nice to get home. Really good crowd. The sport was amazing, and I think that showed in our energy and the result," Shuttleworth said.
The Aggies controlled possession throughout the match, with Shuttleworth pointing to strong defensive structure and second-ball wins as keys to the performance.
"We competed really well. I thought we connected with each other really well in possession. I thought we had moments of picking up a lot of second balls and limiting them and really pinning them in. I thought our rest defense was really good," Shuttleworth said.
Churchill, who enrolled early in the spring, credited the extra time on the training ground with Buchanan for building their on-field chemistry.
"Starting in the spring when I graduated early, I think that helped a lot with meshing us together really well. And over the spring, I think Coach Bobby put us together almost every single practice, anytime he could, and I think that really built the relationship between us," Churchill said.
Churchill described her first goal of the night as a moment of instinct.
"Hattie crossed that ball up in the air and then I just saw it coming and just kind of went for it, hoping the goalie wasn't going to take me out, but it worked out well and it went in," Churchill said.
The team carried momentum from a strong response to their previous loss, with Churchill noting the group's mindset heading into the match.
"We just kind of bore that game on our chest and it was just like, you got to deal with it and we come out strong the next one. We had high energy the next day. We learned from our mistakes and I think especially this morning we were just full of energy and ready to get after it," Churchill said.
Buchanan said the team's hunger after going 1-2 to start the season was a driving force.
"We needed to win and you know being 1 and 2 going into this game we had a lot of fire and we wanted to obviously win this game for our spirits and I think we were really hungry and I think that showed," Buchanan said.
Buchanan also highlighted the importance of the second goal, scored just before halftime, in setting the tone for the second half.
"Only being up 1 or 2 goals, it's dangerous, especially if they score, they can tie the game or have the momentum go back to themselves. So I think it was good to give us a little bit of like a foundation and something to fall back on," Buchanan said.
The shutout was a milestone for the team, which had not recorded one yet this season.
"We needed a shutout and I think we competed really well," Shuttleworth said.
Buchanan credited the team's collective aggression and combination play in the attacking third for generating chances.
"I think definitely collectively way more aggressive, and I think we create opportunities. We're doing more combo play on top of the box, which therefore created more opportunities, and I think we obviously capitalized," Buchanan said.
Shuttleworth praised Churchill's ability to read the game and her continued development.
"She's got an innate feel for the game, finding space, running off people's shoulders, combination play. I think her movement has really started to progress as well in terms of when to check in the feet, when to pin players, when to run in behind," Shuttleworth said.
Buchanan described her connection with Churchill as a product of mutual awareness on the field.
"I always, when I look up, I look for her and Diaz too up top because they're always putting themselves in a great pocket of space and me getting right underneath and creating, you know, a passing lane for them as well," Buchanan said.
She also emphasized that the team's chemistry extends beyond just the two of them.
"It's not just me and Ireland, it's me and Diaz, it's me and Finley. I could go like the list is extremely long. I think it's great because everyone's willing to get on the ball and I think it showed this game," Buchanan said.
The sold-out atmosphere at Ellis Field made an impression on Churchill, who said the environment was part of why she chose Texas A&M.
"It's a great atmosphere here. I love it. That's one of the reasons why I committed here, and I mean, I just thank the 12th man for coming out and supporting us," Churchill said.
Fans in attendance echoed that energy, with some making the trip to College Station an annual tradition.
"It's been amazing. I've been here like 3 years in a row. I also went to the Texas A&M soccer camp a few years ago. My dad's an Aggie, so I love coming back down here every year," one fan said.
Another fan described the Aggie culture as something that has to be experienced firsthand.
"I feel like it's very well cultured. I feel like everyone is very spirited here and you can kind of tell that. I've heard that from like anyone who I've talked to being an Aggie, but then seeing it, it's amazing," the fan said.
Texas A&M will next face Air Force, who enter the matchup undefeated. Buchanan said the team plans to carry the momentum from the shutout win into the next game.
"Just taking it one game at a time, there's a lot of things we can still work on, obviously great things as well. We've got to build off that, but use this game going into the next game, Air Force undefeated. We've got to take it one step at a time and focus on our game," Buchanan said.
