Texas A&M soccer head coach G Guerrieri and the reigning Big 12 Champion Aggie soccer team started official practice Wednesday at Ellis Field, despite record-high temperatures across the nation.
"We have obviously been very excited to get this team on the practice field," Guerrieri said "This is a very talented group of soccer players, who we think can accomplish some special things for Texas A&M. But we are very conscience of the climactic challenges that we have to deal with in August here in the heart of Texas, especially with this being a record-setting summer of triple-digit temperatures."
After an early morning practice on Wednesday, Guerrieri moved the team indoors for a 6:30 p.m. training session. The coaching and athletic training staffs have taken extra precautions for hydration and body temperatures because of the heat.
"My staff works hard to design game-like training conditions for our practice sessions," Guerrieri said. "But because of the intense heat this summer, we've taken extra special precautions to protect the health of our players while we go through our preseason regiment.
"We have shortened the duration of our practices and extended our water breaks. We've also adjusted our schedule to train mostly during the morning hours, when the temperatures are cooler. If we have a second session in a day, we've been able to do many of those sessions inside Texas A&M's air-conditioned practice football facility, or we've gone later in the evening at Ellis Field."
The Aggies return seven starters from the 2010 Big 12 Championship team, including three All-Big 12 First Team selections: seniors Bri Young and Merritt Mathias, and sophomore Rachel Lenz. Young received her first NSCAA/Performance Subaru All-American honor, while Mathias and Lenz were also named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer team in 2010.
Also returning from the 2010 starting lineup are senior Rachael Balaguer, juniors Lyndsey Gnatzig and Mary Grace Schmidt, and redshirt junior Beth West.
Guerrieri and his staff recruited a top-five signing class of ten freshman, and recently added Jayne Eadie, a junior transfer from Oregon State. The incoming freshman class consists of five 2011 state champions, four club national champions and three 2011 Gatorade State Players of the Year. At least one incoming A&M freshman has won a club national championship in each of the past four years.
Fans can now purchase season tickets to see the fresh Aggie team in action. The improved seating at Ellis Field will remain at the 2010 price. Tickets for the 2011 season can be purchased in person at the Zone at Kyle Field box office, by phone at (979) 845-2311 or 1-888-99-AGGIE, or online at www.12thmanfoundation.com.
The Aggies begin play in front of a home crowd in the annual Maroon and White Game on Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. The team will officially kick off the 2011 season when it hosts Fresno State on Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Ellis Field. For more information on Texas A&M soccer, log on to AggieAthletics.com.
"This is an important time of the year for us, but it's just as important to look after these kids and be sure they are learning and competing in as safe an environment as possible," Guerrieri said. "We have a great staff of athletic trainers on the field every day, and they are on high alert to immediately attend to anyone who is struggling from the heat."