August 18, 2005
Texas A&M soccer fans will be able to see the team's first action of the season as the sixth-ranked Aggie soccer team will host Southern Mississippi in an exhibition game on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Aggie Soccer Stadium.
It will be the Aggies' only tune-up before opening the regular-season at home against Stephen F. Austin on August 26.
"I am looking forward to unveiling our 2005 squad," commented 13th-year head coach G Guerrieri. "Being able to play a team like Southern Miss will provide us some teachable moments and give our new players a taste of what it is like to play a home game in Aggieland."
The Aggies return 10 starters, including Big 12 Freshman of the Year Ashlee Pistorius and All-American goalkeeper Kati Jo Spisak, and 23 letterwinners from last season's Big 12 regular-season and tournament championship team.
"Our preseason training has gone very well," Guerrieri said. "Getting a game under our belt should provide us a good self-evaluation."
A&M finished the 2004 season with a record of 18-6 and advanced the NCAA Championship Tournament for the 10th straight year.
Southern Miss returns eight starters and 14 letterwinners from a team that finished 5-11-1 a year ago. Leading the way for the Golden Eagles will be forward Karly Barkley who had five goals and two assists last season.
Admission will be free for Saturday's exhibition and single-match and season tickets are available online at www.AggieAthletics.com or by calling 1-888-99-AGGIE.
The exhibition match also marks the first opportunity for fans to activate their roster spot in the 12th Man Team Rewards program.
Fans who are unable to attend the game can follow the action live by logging onto www.AggieAthletics.com. The site will feature live video and live audio streams as well as live statistical updates.
New to Aggie Soccer this season will be live broadcasts by Spanish Radio Alegria AM-1240. Radio Alegria will broadcast all of A&M's home soccer matches.