SEC Soccer Week 2 Preview: Texas A&M Takes on UCF in Battle of Ranked Teams

SEC Soccer Game of the Week

Texas A&M's home match-up against No. 18 UCF on Friday night offers the only showdown of the weekend between ranked teams. Texas A&M rose two spots to No. 7 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll after an undefeated opening weekend. The Aggies did, however, labor to earn those victories. The season opened with a 4-3 thriller over Dayton. Up 3-1 in the 82nd minute, the Aggies yielded two goals in 19 seconds before senior Kelly Monogue scored her second of the night in the 83rd minute to clinch the victory for the Aggies. After a 1-0 win over Sam Houston State, Texas A&M starts its season with a 2-0-0 record for the first time since 2008. Despite outshooting SHSU 35-7, the Aggies could not stretch their lead after the first-half Shea Groom goal that ended up being the game-winner.

UCF enters the game after an abbreviated opening weekend. The scheduled season opener against Florida Gulf Coast University was canceled due to weather before a 2-1 home win over Miami (FL). The Knights are the defending American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament champions, and went undefeated in conference play in 2013. Sophomore forward Lena Petermann was named AAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after scoring eight goals and adding four assists as a freshman. Senior forward Tatiana Coleman scored both of UCF's goals against Miami. Coleman transferred to UCF after two years at Auburn, including being named to the first team of the 2012 All-SEC team. Later in the 2014 season, UCF plays at Georgia and hosts Ole Miss.

The Aggies host the Knights at 9 p.m. ET Friday and the game will be aired live on SEC Network+.

Talking Points:

• Attendance records fell around the SEC as Ole Miss had 1,823 in attendance Friday night against Georgia, Mississippi State broke 1,000 attendees for the first time with 1,010 fans, and Arkansas set their top and fourth-highest attendances at 2,268 against Oklahoma State and 1,517 against Utah State, respectively.
• Georgia and Ole Miss opened SEC play with a 1-1 tie after 2 OT Friday night in Oxford. The game was the only conference game of the weekend and was the first live game aired on the SEC Network. Gabby Seiler opened the scoring for Georgia before Olivia Harrison evened the score for the Rebels.
• In addition to Texas A&M, Georgia, and Ole Miss, four other teams made it through the first weekend undefeated. Arkansas, Florida, and South Carolina all went 2-0-0 while LSU went 1-0-0. Florida, Texas A&M and South Carolina all moved up two spots in the NSCAA poll to No. 6, No. 7 and No. 12, respectively. Arkansas also entered the poll at No. 25.

Week 1 results

Friday, August 22, 2014

Tennessee 5, Milwaukee 0
Missouri 0, Syracuse 0 (2OT)
Georgia 1, at Ole Miss 1 (2OT)
at Clemson 2, Auburn 1
South Carolina 2, at East Carolina 0
at Florida 3, Miami (Fla.) 0
at Alabama 5, Kennesaw State 1
at Arkansas 3, Utah State 1
at LSU 2, Troy 0
Iowa State 5, at Mississippi State 1
at Texas A&M 4, Dayton 3
at Vanderbilt 1, Mercer 0
at Washington 4, Kentucky 1

Sunday, August 24, 2014

West Virginia 3, Missouri 2
Cincinnati 1, at Mississippi State 0
at Florida 2, South Florida 0
at Rutgers 3, Vanderbilt 0
Auburn 2, at Furman 1
at Georgia 3, UNC-Greensboro 0
at Ole Miss 1, Iowa State 0
Kentucky 2, at Seattle U. 1 (OT)
at Wisconsin 2, Tennessee 1 (OT)
at South Carolina 2, Samford 0
Memphis 2, at Alabama 1
at Arkansas 2, Oklahoma State 1
at Texas A&M 1, Stephen F. Austin 0

Week 2 schedule