[UC IRVINE-TEXAS A&M] Shea Groom helped set up goals by fellow sophomores Bianca Brinson and Kelley Monogue to lead No. 15 Texas A&M to a 2-1 win at UC Irvine in the Aggies' season opener Monday at Anteater Stadium.

The Aggies avenged an early-season loss to the Anteaters with the win.

“This wasn’t our best performance, but it was nice to beat a team who beat us last year,” Aggies coach G Guerrieri said. “I thought Shea Groom had a super performance, being able to both stretch people and put some pressure on their back line. [Goalie] Jordan Day had a good performance, I thought Meghan Streight did a real good job in the back for us. There were some other performances that our players wouldn’t be that proud of, but again, it’s the first game, it’s a win, and now we can prepare ourselves for another game against a conference champion when we play San Diego on Wednesday.”

In the 40th minute, Groom slotted a pass to Jayne Eadie, who then found Brinson along the right flank. Brinson juggled the ball twice before striking a laser into the back post for the 1-0 lead.

UCI netted the equalizer in the 45th minute on a goal by Zuri Walker from 30 yards.

The Aggies pulled ahead in the 83rd minute when Groom broke into the six-yard box, pulling UCI keeper Jennifer Randazzi out of goal, and found Monogue for the winner.

The Aggies will end their California road trip at San Diego on Wednesday.

Aug. 20 in Irvine, Calif.
UC Irvine 1 Texas A&M 2. Goals: Walker 45; Brinson (Eadie, Groom) 40, Monogue (Groom) 83.
UC Irvine -- Randazzo, Farzaneh, O'Brien, Ledezma, Samis, Solow, Privett, Pellegrino, Rodriguez, Utvich, Wood. Subs: Robles, Sanderlin, Walker.
Texas A&M -- Day, Lenz, Streight, Gnatzig, Witz, Eadie, Perry, West, Edwards, Bailey, Kunz. Subs: Groom, Cousineau, Tondl, Monogue, Jones, Brinson.
Att.: 631.
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