FORT WORTH, Texas — Texas Wesleyan defeated A&M-Victoria 2-0 on Thursday. The Rams scored both goals in the first half and recorded a shutout behind five saves while putting 10 of their 12 shots on goal.
The Rams scored twice in the first 19 minutes, with
Maribel Vargas opening the scoring at 5:30 and
Sahara Gipson adding another goal at 18:13. The Rams generated two corner kicks in the first 2:28 and forced an early save on a Vargas shot before breaking through.
Adriaa Hardy helped keep A&M-Victoria off the board with saves in the third and 13th minutes, and the Rams added chances from
Yareli Mendoza and Gipson after going ahead. A&M-Victoria pressed from 26:20 to 35:06, but Hardy made two more saves during that stretch and three other attempts missed the frame as the Rams took a 2-0 lead into halftime.
The Rams kept A&M-Victoria off the scoreboard in the second half while generating several chances of their own. The Rams put together a three-shot stretch from 53:23 to 56:38, with
Sydney Chavez, Gipson and Mendoza each forcing saves from Giliece Gomez while the score remained 2-0. Hardy answered A&M-Victoria's chance in the 65th minute with a save on Chloe Parker, and the Rams followed with pressure that included Vargas' corner kick at 65:32 and another Chavez shot on frame at 67:54.
Nicole Gomez added a shot high in the 76th minute, and Vargas served a late corner in the 86th as the Rams saw out a scoreless second half.
Vargas scored the game-winning goal and put all three of her shots on frame. Gipson added a goal while also finishing with three shots on goal. Hardy recorded five saves over 90 minutes without allowing a goal. Mendoza generated three shots, including two on goal.
The Rams stay home next week as their non-conference schedules continues with a matchup against Huston-Tillotson on Tuesday, September 8 at 5pm.
