Aug. 10, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Vicente Del Bosque, coach of the FIFA World Cup winning Spanish team, had a problem - too many good midfielders. Texas A&M soccer head coach G Guerrieri has that same problem.
The 2010 Aggie soccer team returns all of its midfielders from last season's NCAA Sweet 16 squad and has three additional midfielders returning from medical redshirt seasons, which adds up to an explosive group. The returning trio of senior Raven Tatum comprise as different types of central players as is possible. West (Centennial, Colo.) is the terrier, always working, always moving and then backs it all up with great touch and passing ability. Gnatzig (Humble, Texas) was hands down the best Aggie this spring. Her commitment to get forward either running with the ball or diving to reach crosses in the six-yard box was sorely missed last season. Meanwhile, Tatum (Dallas, Texas) could be classified as the destroyer of the group from her role as a holding midfielder, but this mark sells short her great passing ability that can stretch opposing teams and release her teammates into space.
The returning midfielders will not take this challenge lying down. What Aggie soccer fan can forget the way senior Rachel Shipley (Plano, Texas) took over games at the end of last season? Her long-range goals against Missouri, Texas and Florida State were at crucial times in the game. Shipley's cool ball control under pressure will never go out of style. The ying to Shipley's yang is senior Alyssa Mautz, FIFA U-20 World Champion. Mautz (O'Fallen, Mo.) takes fitness to the extreme, always running, tackling and heading. Yet, the greatest development seen in her game over the years is in her passing skills. Once somewhat careless in possession, Mautz has elevated this facet of her game and is fully expected to provide assists in bunches this year while being counted on for some highlight-reel tackles and goals.
Frequent A&M soccer watchers will not be surprised if junior Carly Wohlers sees much more time this season. The left-footed Wohlers (Plano, Texas) provides much needed width in some games that can get very crowded in the center circle. Long-time Aggie fans will also not be surprised to see senior Nicole Ketchum (Cypress, Texas) back on the field. Any player that has had nine surgeries has the warrior mentality to fight in the toughest of contests.
If, with age comes consistency, then the Aggies can look forward to some great play this season from sophomore Chelsea Jones and junior Bri Young. As a freshman last season, Jones (Belton, Texas) showed flashes of greatness in the USC game while Young (Castle Pines North, Colo.) has been a consistent scoring threat on set piece goals throughout her career in Aggieland and hit a memorable left-footed bomb from distance against Texas last season which leaves us all wanting more.
While we don't know what formation lies ahead for the Aggies this season, we can only surmise that the three midfield and three forward formation used by the Aggies last year from the conference onwards was a response to losing West and Gnatzig. What we do know is that just like Del Bosque, Coach G will be surrounded by talented midfielders even when the starting eleven is on the field!