July 22, 2008
Little Rock, Ark.- Three current Texas A&M soccer players will lead their youth teams into the USYSA National Championship Tournament this week in Little Rock. Whitney Hooper, Kat Armstrong, and Rachel Shipley led their summer club teams to Regional Championships last month in Raleigh, N.C. and will now try to win at the National level.
Hooper and Armstrong both grew up playing for the Challenge Soccer Club out of the Houston area and will lead the Challenge U19 team to Little Rock. Last month in the Regional Championship game, Hooper scored twice to win the Region III Championship for Coach Pat O’Toole’s team. Meanwhile, Rachel Shipley paced Coach Kenny Medina’s Dallas Sting Soccer Club team to the U18 Regional Championship in Raleigh.
“We’re excited for our girls to be playing for a very meaningful trophy this week,” stated A&M head soccer coach G Guerrieri. “Many of our players over the years have played in this tournament and several have led their teams to National Championships. Amy Berend, Paige Carmichael, Laura Probst, Bri Young, Becca Herrera, Jen Kmezich and Beth West all helped their club teams rise to the top of youth soccer in this country. They enjoyed a wonderful life experience with their hometown friends and teammates, and we’re all hoping that Rachel, Kat, and Whitney have fantastic experiences this week in Arkansas.”
Hooper and Shipley each earned spots in the Aggies’ starting lineup last season as freshmen. They each played instrumental roles in helping Texas A&M win their fourth consecutive Big 12 Championship and advance to their 13th straight NCAA Championship Tournament. Both are expected to be major players in A&M’s celebrated attack this coming season. Kat Armstrong red-shirted last year due to knee surgery and will be ready to compete in her freshman season when the Aggies report to preseason training on August 6th.