Aggies Providing Smiles On and Off the Pitch
Aug 29, 2015 | Soccer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Soccer team is off to a perfect start, bringing grins to the fans at Ellis Field, but recently the Aggies provided smiles to patients and families at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.
Prior to their season opener at Rice, the squad had a four-hour window in their schedule and filled the time interacting with a wide array of children. In addition to passing out jerseys and signing autographs, the squad played with kids in the hospital's Child Life Zone. Activities included foosball, air hockey, billiards, video games and the highlight of the afternoon, a dance-off between freshman Kate Hajdu and various children. The afternoon finished with a dance party, featuring the "Doo Doo Brown", "Cupid Shuffle" and "Cha Cha Slide."
"It was so much fun to go into The Zone, where the kids can go and be kids, and sort of bring the outside world to them," team co-captain Kristi Leonard said. "We bring smiles to the kids' faces. The kids bring smiles to our faces. It's a great experience."
Throughout the afternoon groups of Aggies went on room visits to those unable to make the trek down to the Child Life Zone.
The visit provided good luck for the Aggies as they went on to post a 4-2 win at Rice in the opener and continued to be perfect through their next two games. The day's visit may have played a part in it.
"It was great to relax and just not think about soccer for the afternoon," Leonard said. "We worked so hard in two-a-days during the preseason and with no school going on for most of us, all we were thinking about was soccer. It was great to clear our mind the day before the season opener."
The soccer squad is renowned for their community service efforts, regularly claiming the Athletic Department's Aggie Cup. The Aggie Cup promotes unity in the five commitment areas of the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program: Academics, Athletes Supporting Athletes, Community Service, Career Development, Personal Development and Team Enhancement.
"We look for these opportunities whenever we have a chance," head coach G Guerrieri said. "It's something we want to continue to do. Having our players involved in these kind of activities is part of the process of making them better people. It's what Aggies do."
Prior to their season opener at Rice, the squad had a four-hour window in their schedule and filled the time interacting with a wide array of children. In addition to passing out jerseys and signing autographs, the squad played with kids in the hospital's Child Life Zone. Activities included foosball, air hockey, billiards, video games and the highlight of the afternoon, a dance-off between freshman Kate Hajdu and various children. The afternoon finished with a dance party, featuring the "Doo Doo Brown", "Cupid Shuffle" and "Cha Cha Slide."
"It was so much fun to go into The Zone, where the kids can go and be kids, and sort of bring the outside world to them," team co-captain Kristi Leonard said. "We bring smiles to the kids' faces. The kids bring smiles to our faces. It's a great experience."
Throughout the afternoon groups of Aggies went on room visits to those unable to make the trek down to the Child Life Zone.
The visit provided good luck for the Aggies as they went on to post a 4-2 win at Rice in the opener and continued to be perfect through their next two games. The day's visit may have played a part in it.
"It was great to relax and just not think about soccer for the afternoon," Leonard said. "We worked so hard in two-a-days during the preseason and with no school going on for most of us, all we were thinking about was soccer. It was great to clear our mind the day before the season opener."
The soccer squad is renowned for their community service efforts, regularly claiming the Athletic Department's Aggie Cup. The Aggie Cup promotes unity in the five commitment areas of the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program: Academics, Athletes Supporting Athletes, Community Service, Career Development, Personal Development and Team Enhancement.
"We look for these opportunities whenever we have a chance," head coach G Guerrieri said. "It's something we want to continue to do. Having our players involved in these kind of activities is part of the process of making them better people. It's what Aggies do."
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