August 19, 2005
The sixth-ranked Texas A&M soccer team was picked to defend its Big 12 Championship in a preseason poll voted on by the league's head coaches, and three Aggies were selected to the preseason all-conference team, the Big 12 office announced Thursday.
"It's great that three of our players are recognized by the Big 12 coaches as being great athletes," head coach G Guerrieri said. "We're also very flattered to be picked again to win the conference championship. We see this as another goal for us to try to meet this season."
A&M received five of 11 first place votes (coaches are not allowed to vote for own team) and totaled 93 points. Nebraska was right on the Aggies' heels with 92 points for second place. The Huskers also received five first place nods. Texas was chosen third with 81 points, receiving one first place vote.
Individually, Texas A&M senior goalkeeper Kati Jo Spisak (St. Louis, Mo.), senior midfielder Carrie Berend (Highland Village, Texas) and sophomore forward Ashlee Pistorius (Bloomington, Ill.) were named to the preseason All-Big 12 team.
Defending co-champion Kansas was picked fourth in the poll, followed by Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Iowa State, Baylor and Texas Tech.
Spisak, a two-time All-American, was an all-region selection in 2004 in posting an 18-6 record and a 0.94 goals against average. She tied a career high with seven shutouts.
Berend earned all-region and all-conference honors for the first time in her career last season. She led the team with eight assists and also scored two goals, both game-winners.
Pistorius posted the best freshman season in school history in an All-American 2004 campaign. She led the Big 12 and the nation's freshmen with 19 goals while leading the Aggie attack in four other categories.
The Aggies return 10 starters and 23 letterwinners from a 2004 squad that won the Big 12's regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th consecutive year.
A&M opens the year on Saturday with an exhibition match against Southern Miss at the Aggie Soccer Stadium. The Aggies begin the regular season at home on Friday, Aug. 26 against Stephen F. Austin. Kickoff for both matches is set for 8 p.m. Single-match and season tickets are available by logging on to www.aggieathletics.com or by calling 1-888-99-AGGIE.
Fans can follow the Southern Miss match with live video, live audio and live statistics on AggieAthletics.com. The match will also be broadcast locally in Spanish on Radio Alegria 1240 AM.
2005 BIG 12 SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
(first place votes in parentheses; coaches not allowed to vote for own team or players)
1. Texas A&M (5) 93 2. Nebraska (5) 92 3. Texas (1) 81 4. Kansas 74 5. Colorado 65 6. Missouri 52 7. Oklahoma State 51 8. Oklahoma 36 9. Iowa State 26 10. Baylor 18 11. Texas Tech 17
2005 PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 SOCCER TEAM
- GK: Joanna Haig, Iowa State, So., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
GK: Kati Jo Spisak, Texas A&M, Sr., St. Louis, Mo.
D: Laura Munnelly, Colorado, Jr., Arvada, Colo.
D: Sasha Andrews, Nebraska, Sr., Edmonton, Alberta
D: Tanya Dennis, Nebraska, Jr., Brampton, Ontario
MF: Fran Munnelly, Colorado, Sr., Arvada, Colo.
MF: Elyse Nikonchuk, Missouri, Jr., New Lenox, Ill.
MF: Brittany Timko, Nebraska, Jr., Coquitlam, British Columbia
MF: Carrie Berend, Texas A&M, Sr., Highland Village, Texas
F: Kelsey Carpenter, Texas, So., Allen, Texas
F: Caitlin Kennedy, Texas, So., Euless, Texas
F: Ashlee Pistorius, Texas A&M, So., Bloomington, Ill.