COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M soccer players Merritt Mathias and Rachel Lenz were selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, the conference office announced today.
"It's nice to see some of our players being recognized by the other coaches," head coach G Guerrieri said. "Both Merritt and Rachel are coming off of a great 2010 season where they helped us win another Big 12 Championship."
The pair received All-Big 12 first team and Big 12 All-Newcomer Team honors in the fall after an outstanding 2010 season.
Mathias, a senior, earned the conference's Player of the Week title twice in 2010 as a junior transfer. The Birmingham, Ala., became a conference leader in her debut season, netting nine goals and assisting five for 23 points.
Lenz, a sophomore team captain, also entered Big 12 competition with force, leading the backline in eight shutouts and only 18 goals allowed. Offensively the Round Rock, Texas, native scored one goal and contributed one assist. She was the only freshman on the 2010 All-Big 12 first team.
The Aggies will take the field Saturday evening at 6 p.m. CST in an exhibition game at Central Florida in Orlando. The game will be broadcast on AggieAthletics.com. The team returns to College Station for its annual Maroon and White match at Ellis Field on Monday, Aug. 15, at 6:30 p.m. before kicking off the regular season against Fresno State at home on Friday, Aug. 19, at 6:30 p.m. For a complete 2011 schedule, log on to AggieAthletics.com.
"We look forwards to getting all of our players back on the field and competing for A&M," Guerrieri said. "Our exhibition this Saturday night at the home of the defending Conference USA Champions will be a super preseason challenge for Merritt, Rachel and their teammates."