COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Shannon Connolly (Sr., Santa Barbara, Calif.) scored eight times to claim Player of the Game status as No. 11-ranked/Texas Division Champion/host Texas A&M University handled No. 17/Atlantic Division Champion Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) by a 17-6 score in the a first day consolation game at the 2024 Women’s National Collegiate Club Championship.
Competing at home in the Student Rec Center, the Aggies – who dropped a 10-9 game to No. 16/Southeast Division Champion Florida State University in an opening round game earlier in the day – trailed once in overwhelming the Hokies and locking up at worst a 12th place finish in the 16-team championship field.
Texas A&M will return to the water at 1:40 p.m. Central on Saturday, May 4, against the winner of a consolation game pitting Texas Division Third Place finisher Texas State University and Big Ten Division runner-up/No. 8 Michigan State University. The winner of the clash will compete for Ninth Place at 2:15 p.m. Central on Sunday, May 5, while the loser squares off in the 30th and final game of the championship weekend at 3:30 p.m. Central in the 11th Place game.
Virginia Tech will see its 2024 season come to an end at 8:40 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, as the Hokies will take on the fallen from the Texas State-Michigan State consolation game in a 13th/15th place game. Due to the number of games (30) during the championship weekend – and limited pool time – the 13th and 15th place games are not played. Therefore, the winner of Virginia Tech’s final game ties for 13th place, while the loser ties for 15th place.
The Aggies fell behind 19 seconds into the game as Mollie Morin broke the ice with 6:41 left in the first quarter to stake the Hokies to a 1-0 lead. The margin was short-lived, however, as Texas A&M closed out the opening frame with a 4-1 surge to push ahead and never look back.
Leading 10-3 by halftime and 15-5 at the conclusion of the third quarter, Texas A&M continued to pull way in acquiring an 11-goal win and a shot at claiming at Ninth Place mark in the final championship standings.
For Virginia Tech, Cate Carlson and Anna Goodman both scored twice to lead the Hokies’ offense. Morin and Liliana Gamiz chipped in solo markers to support a combined two save performance by goalkeepers Livy Meeting (one save) and Avery Krivis (one save).
Across the tank, Connolly (seven) was the lone Aggie among 10 scorers to account for more than one goal as Kayla Shaunfield (Sr., Houston, Texas), Braelea Loftin (So., Riverside, Calif.), Alexandria Hitt (Gr., Pearland, Texas), Emily Nguyen (Jr., The Woodlands, Texas), Avery Davis (Jr., Houston, Texas), Mia Senmache (So., Morovis, Puerto Rico), Ava Rodriguez (Jr., San Antonio, Texas), Ava Faux (So., San Antonio, Texas) and Meghan Shimer (Sr., Dallas, Texas) each stuffed in solo strikes. Leah Nelson (Sr., Alvin, Texas) (six) and Reagan Smith (So., Oceanside, Calif.) (seven) combined for 13 saves while splitting time in cage.
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| No. 17 Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University |
2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 6 |
| No. 11 Texas A&M University | 4 | 6 | 5 | 2 | – | 17 |
| Texas A&M Goals: | Shannon Connolly (8); Kayla Shaunfield; Braelea Loftin; Alexandria Hitt; Emily Nguyen; Avery Davis; Mia Senmache; Ava Rodriguez; Ava Faux; Meghan Shimer | |||||
| Virginia Tech Goals: | Cate Carlson (2); Anna Goodman (2); Mollie Morin; Liliana Gamiz | |||||
| Saves: | Texas A&M – Leah Nelson (6, 14 minutes), Reagan Smith (7, 14 minutes) ; Virginia Tech – Livy Meeting (1, 14 minutes), Avery Krivis (1, 14 minutes) | |||||
| Exclusions: | Texas A&M – 4 ; Virginia Tech – 8 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Texas A&M – 4-for-8; Virginia Tech – 1-for-4 | |||||
| Sprints: | Texas A&M – 2-for-4 (3rd, 4th) ; Virginia Tech – 2-for-4 (1st, 2nd) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | None | |||||
| Officials: | Edwin Barrera, John Rightmyer | |||||
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University’s Kata Kokinos (#12) & Texas A&M University’s Shannon Connolly (#12)
Texas A&M University’s Bralea Loftin (#17) rises to shoot against Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University’s Livy Meeting (#1)
Texas A&M University’s Avery Davis (#6) defends Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University’s Liliana Gamiz (#4)
Texas A&M University’s Shannon Connolly (#12) menaces Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University’s Kata Kokinos (#12)
