August 15, 2006
The 14th-ranked Texas A&M soccer team was picked to bring home the 2006 Big 12 soccer championship in a preseason vote of the league's head coaches, the conference office announced this week.
?We are flattered to be seen as the top team in the Big 12 again this year,? commented A&M head coach G. Guerrieri. ?I know that this is going to be another tough season and this poll just helps to insure that all of the great teams in our conference will again be gunning for us.?
The Aggies received seven of 11 first place votes (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team or players) and totaled 97 points. Nebraska was chosen second with two first place votes and 83 points. Texas was a close third with two first place votes and 82 points.
Along with being selected to finish first in conference play, A&M is represented by three players on the Preseason All-Big 12 team. Junior Ashlee Pistorius was a unanimous selection at forward. Joining Pistorius are fellow juniors, defender Paige Carmichael and midfielder Amy Berend.
?I am pleased to see Amy, Ashlee and Paige receiving this nice recognition by the Big 12 coaches,? Guerrieri continued. ?All of our players work very hard, and there are a lot of great players in this league. So it?â„¢s always nice to see a few of our top players get singled out for their great abilities.?
Pistorius, an All-Big 12 first team selection in 2005, led the league in total points last season (56), scoring 22 goals and dishing out 12 assists. Carmichael battled back after suffering a knee injury in the 2004 Big 12 Championship to be named the 2005 Big 12 Championship Defensive MVP. Berend was a member of the 2004 Big 12 All-Newcomer team and posted a career high in 2005 in assists (5) while starting all 24 of the Aggies?â„¢ matches.
The Aggies will travel to Columbus, Ohio to face Ohio State in an exhibition match on Friday, Aug. 18. Kick off at Columbus Crew Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m.
A&M will begin the regular season at home on Friday, Aug. 25 against North Carolina. The game is slated for 8 p.m. Single-match and season tickets are available by logging on to aggieathletics.com or by calling 1-888-99-AGGIE.
1. Texas A&M (7) 97
2. Nebraska (2) 83
3. Texas (2) 82
4. Colorado 72
5. Kansas 69
6. Oklahoma 51
7. Oklahoma State 47
8. Missouri 42
9. Iowa State 31
10. Baylor 18
11. Texas Tech 13
2006 PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 SOCCER TEAM
GK: Jamie Klages Nebraska So Coronado, Calif.
GK: Dianna Pfenninger Texas So Sugar Land, Texas
D: Kasey Moore Texas So Mission Viejo, Calif.
D: Stephanie Logterman Texas So Austin, Texas
D: Paige Carmichael Texas A&M Jr Glendale, Ariz.
MF: Caitlyn Kennedy Texas Jr Euless, Texas
MF: Amy Berend Texas A&M So Highland Village, Texas
MF: Yolanda Odenyo Oklahoma State Jr Uppsala, Sweden
F: Brittany Timko Nebraska Sr Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
F: Ashlee Pistorius Texas A&M Jr Normal, Ill.
F: Katie Griffin Colorado Sr Scottsdale, Ariz.
F: Holly Gault Kansas Sr Spring Hill, Kan.
(ties in voting)