North Texas Daily

Alex Lessard | Staff Writer

@alexlikechexmix

In its first matchup against a nationally ranked team this season, North Texas (8-2) fell short on the road against No. 5 Texas A&M University (9-1) by a score of 2-1.

Playing without junior forward Rachel Holden (five yellow cards) and junior midfielder Alexsis Cable, the Mean Green struggled to find scoring opportunities in the first half. At the 45 minute mark, North Texas had put just three shots up and failed to get a shot on goal.

Despite committing 12 fouls, the defense held strong through a surging Aggie attack to keep the game scoreless. Senior goalkeeper Jackie Kerestine finished the half with five saves.

Just 37 seconds into the second half, junior forward Anna Flobeck scored her first goal of the season on a kick from near the penalty spot. Flobeck was assisted by senior midfielder Karla Pineda and freshman forward Taylor Torres.

After consecutive point-blank shots in the 71st minute off a free kick less than 20 yards out, Texas A&M put in its first goal. The goal was only the fourth North Texas has allowed this season and its first since Sept. 30.

The Mean Green were tested with a late run from the Aggies, seeing two corner kicks and three shots in the final four minutes. But with the help of Kerestine, who finished with a career-high 15 saves, North Texas forced its first overtime period of the season.

The first ten-minute overtime period was back-and-forth with each goalie making crucial saves to keep their teams alive. The Aggies kept firing in the second overtime, but Kerestine held strong. Each of its four shots in the period were saved until Kerestine let a free kick through with just 65 seconds remaining, snapping the Mean Green’s five-game winning streak.

Kerestine’s record-setting day kept North Texas in the game until the very end despite finishing the game down 35-10 in shots and 10-1 in corner kicks. Her 15 saves was the second most from any goalkeeper in a single game in North Texas history.

The Mean Green will look to bounce back on Friday in its first Conference-USA matchup against Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. The game will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Featured Image: Senior Lindsey Hulstein steals the ball for the Mean Green. Meagan Sullivan | Associate Visuals Editor