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March 7, 2010

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M soccer team shutout North Texas and Utah on Saturday and won two exhibition matches at the Aggie Soccer Stadium to remain undefeated in its 2010 spring season. The Aggies (6-0) downed the Mean Green, 2-0, and the Utes, 3-0.

In A&M's first game, senior Amber Gnatzig and redshirt junior Nicole Ketchum set the pace for A&M's midfield, who controlled the tempo of the match against UNT.

The game remained scoreless until seven minutes minutes into the second half when freshman Chelsea Jones collected a quick pass from sophomore Kat Armstrong and buried a shot from eight yards to give A&M a 1-0 lead.

Fifteen minutes later, freshman forward Christina Navalta got in behind the Mean Green defense for a breakaway. Her initial shot was blocked by the North Texas goalkeeper, but Navalta coolly pushed a one-timer into the net before the keeper could recover, making the score 2-0.

A&M outshot the Mean Green 20-2 on the afternoon, in an abbreviated, 80-minute match. Aggie keeper, Kristin Arnold, was only called upon to make one save for the shutout victory.

"I thought our group got stronger and more confident as the match went on," commented A&M head coach G Guerrieri. "Our defense was solid and several players in our attack played well. Carly Wohlers and Bri Young each struck the crossbar with shots, while Navalta and Armstrong did a good job of working together to create several nice chances."

One hour after the Aggies finished their match with North Texas, they kicked off their second match of the day against Utah and it did not take long for A&M to score.

In the game's third minute, junior forward Whitney Hooper got loose on the right flank, dribbled to the end line and served a ball across the front of the Ute's goal. The hard-hit cross struck the arm of a Utah defender and A&M was awarded a penalty kick, which junior midfielder Rachel Shipley successfully converted.

Ten minutes later, Hooper again was able to turn and run at the Utah back line, but the Utes cleared the ball over the end line and gave the Aggies their first corner kick of the match. On the corner, Shipley served a ball into the six-yard box, where freshman defender Rachel Lenz rose above the Utah defense to head the ball into the net.

Texas A&M took a 9-1 shot advantage and a 2-0 lead into the locker room for the 15-minute break.

The second period started out much like the first, with the Aggies on the attack. Just a few mites into the half, A&M forward Katie Hamilton was tripped 25 yards from the Utah goal and the Aggies were awarded a free kick. Shipley stepped up and struck a beautiful bending, dipping shot over the Ute's wall of defenders and their goalkeeper and into the far upper corner of the goal, giving A&M a decisive 3-0 advantage.

"I thought Utah was a well-organized and talented team," said Guerrieri. "It was a good game for our youngsters. I thought Lenz, Schmidt, (Lyndsey) Gnatzig, and Balaguer all did a great job in not allowing them any great scoring chances, and Kristin Arnold was very solid in goal."

Saturday was the second of five game days in the Aggies' non-traditional season. The team will take a brief holiday for Texas A&M's spring break (March 13-21) and will be back on the field Saturday, March 27th, when they host Baylor and Marquette.