September 22, 2005
The 14th-ranked Texas A&M soccer team will travel to Columbia, Mo. Friday to open Big 12 play against the Missouri Tigers at the Audrey J. Walton Complex.
A&M finished the 2004 season with an overall 18-6, 8-2 Big 12 record and enters conference play this weekend with a 5-1-1 mark. The Aggies are returning 10 starters and 23 letterwinners from last year's Big 12 Regular Season and Tournament Championship team; adding six newcomers to the 30-man roster.
For the second year in a row, the Aggies are the preseason choice of the Big 12 coaches to take home the Big 12 Championship. Representing A&M on the preseason all-Big 12 team include senior goalkeeper Kati Jo Spisak, who was also named to the watch list for the 2005 Hermann Trophy, senior midfielder Carrie Berend who last year was selected to the Soccer Buzz all-central region team and sophomore forward Ashlee Pistorius, who at the end of the 2004 season was named a freshman all-American.
G. Guerrieri enters his 13th season as the Aggies' head coach. Heading into this weekend's games, Guerrieri sports an all-time record of 207-61-10 with the Ags. Under Guerrieri's guidance A&M has made five "Sweet 16" appearances, two "Elite 8" showings, while earning three Big 12 Regular Season Championships and three Big 12 Tournament Championships.
Missouri was picked to finish sixth in conference play and returns seven starters and 10 letterwinners. The Tigers, who are coached by Bryan Blitz, enter Big 12 play with a 5-2-1 record, the two losses coming to No. 17 California and No. 24 Cal Poly. Junior midfielder Elyse Nikonchuk was selected to represent the Tigers on the preseason all-Big 12 team.
A&M controls the all-time series against Mizzou, which dates back to 1996, 7-2.
On Sunday at 1 p.m., the Aggies will face the Kansas Jayhawks at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex in Lawrence. A&M has a 7-1-1 all-time record against Kansas, who was picked to finish fourth in conference play. In six seasons with the Jayhawks, head coach Mark Francis has compiled a 75-46-6 record.
Live stats for both matches this weekend will be available on AggieAthletics.com.