\n
\n
<\/p>\n
RIO GRANDE VALLEY\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s soccer team scored two second half goals in a comeback effort Sunday at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex, but fell, 3-2, to the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (AMCC) Islanders in the South Texas Showdown presented by Rally Credit Union.\u00a0 Support UTRGV Women’s Soccer<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Become a Fan on Facebook<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Follow us on Twitter<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Follow us on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Follow us on YouTube<\/a> Read Full Article
\n\u00a0
\nThe Islanders (4-8-4, 2-4-2 Southland Conference) were quick to take the lead, scoring the first goal of the match in the fifth minute off the foot of\u00a0Emma Lucero.\u00a0They added another goal in the 12th\u00a0minute as\u00a0Madison Page\u00a0converted on a penalty kick following a foul called against UTRGV.\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nThe Vaqueros (5-9-2, 2-5-1 SLC) didn’t let the early deficit slow down their efforts. UTRGV applied consistent pressure in its offensive third and had two spurts of corners and chances, but the Corpus defense held up. Graduate student forward\u00a0Savannah Frisby<\/a>\u00a0took four of UTRGV’s six shots in the first half as she pushed the offense with junior midfielder\u00a0Olivia Smith<\/a>.\u00a0Smith and junior defender\u00a0Yiselle Bernal<\/a>\u00a0put shots on goal, but AMCC goalkeeper\u00a0Jessie Spurrell\u00a0came up with two saves.\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nJunior goalkeeper\u00a0Emilia Compian<\/a>\u00a0made a pair of saves in the first half, but the Islanders held a 3-0 lead at halftime after\u00a0Mai-Lisa Atis\u00a0scored in the 34th\u00a0minute.\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nUTRGV continued to battle in the second half and slowly built up momentum behind a steady offensive attack. The Islanders created the first chance in the opening minutes of the half and Compian came up with the save. The Vaqueros responded with four shots, including one from sophomore defender\/midfielder\u00a0Erika Parker<\/a>\u00a0that was saved by Spurrell.\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nThe pressure paid off in the 71st\u00a0minute as Smith launched a shot from the edge of the offensive third directly to the back right corner of the net to get UTRGV on the board. Shortly after, Frisby sent a cross into the box and junior midfielder\u00a0Linnea Eld<\/a>\u00a0drilled it with her left foot into the goal, cutting the deficit to 3-2 in the 72nd\u00a0minute.\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nUTRGV got two good chances late in the second half as the physical Islanders were administered a yellow card and a string of fouls, but Bernal’s first shot went directly into the wall of AMCC defenders and the second was punched over the crossbar by Spurrell. The Vaqueros got a corner kick with about a minute remaining in the match but couldn’t convert.\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\nThe Vaqueros will be back in action Thursday at 7 p.m. at East Texas A&M.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n