COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Aggies head into the last half of league action with a rare split weekend that features a home match on Friday against Auburn and a road match at Mississippi State on Sunday.
Texas A&M enters the weekend in second place in the SEC standings with a 5-1-0 mark and just three points behind first-place Florida (6-0-0). Both of the Aggies' opponents for the weekend are in the bottom half of the SEC standings as Auburn sits in 10th place with a 1-2-3 and Mississippi State is the cellar dweller at 0-6-0.
Two wins on the weekend would lock A&M into the SEC Tournament with three matches remaining.
The Aggies boast one of the top scoring duos in the nation with Shea Groom logging 26 points on an SEC-high 12 goals and two assists and Kelley Monogue notching 25 points on nine goals and seven assists.
WINNING
The Aggies win last Friday night guaranteed the Aggies will finish the season with a winning record. A&M has finished with a winning record in all of its previous 21 seasons. The closest the Aggies have finished to the .500 mark is the 14-8 (.636) record they posted in 1998.
CONFERENCE WINNING
A win or two ties on the weekend would guarantee the Aggies would finish league play with a winning record. A&M has finished with a winning record in league play in all 18 of the years it was aligned with a conference. The closest the Aggies have finished to the .500 mark in league play is the 5-3-2 (.600) record they posted in Big 12 play in 2003. In 18 previous seasons of league action, A&M has finished first or second in the conference standings on 16 occasions with the other finishes coming in 1998 (3rd Big 12 - 7-2) and 2003 (5th Big 12 - 5-3-2).
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live stats for this weekend's matches will be on 12thMan.com on Friday and HailState.com on Sunday. Both matches will have video streaming available to SEC Network subscribers via SEC Network Plus as part of the WatchESPN app and ESPN3.com. Friday's match will be aired on RadioAggieland and 12thMan.com.
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WHERE ARE THE AGGIES RANKED?
In week eight, A&M is ranked No. 8 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire poll, two spots from a week ago. The Aggies are No. 12 in the Soccer America Top 25, No. 7 in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 and No. 8 in the BennettRank poll.
LAST TIME OUT - VANDERBILT
The Aggies posted their best offensive effort of the season with a 6-2 win at Vanderbilt and if it were not for the valiant effort of Commodores netminder Christiana Ogunsami, A&M may have hit double-digits in the scoring column. The Maroon and White led 3-2 at the intermission with first-half goals by Janae Cousineau, Annie Kunz and Allie Bailey. The Aggies did all of the scoring in the second half with tallies by Kunz, Kelley Monogue and Shea Groom. Bianca Brinson tallied a career-high three assists. on the evening. Jordan Day made her first appearance since the season-opener, logging two saves in a blank second half.
AGGIES NOTCH THEIR 200th WIN AT ELLIS FIELD
With their 2-1 win over Kentucky, the Aggies notched their 200th win at Ellis Field. Texas A&M owns a 200-30-5 (.862) all-time record at Ellis Field (formerly Aggie Soccer Stadium). The Maroon and White have called the field home since the 1994 season, playing the inaugural 1993 season at Old Tiger Field. Since 2005, the Aggies have registered a 100-14-5 (.861) mark on the friendly pitch. Texas A&M is 207-30-5 (.866) all-time in College Station, going 7-0-0 in their one season at Old Tiger Field.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season and individual tickets for the 2014 home season are now for sale. To purchase tickets, please contact the 12th Man Foundation Ticket Center at tickets.12thManFoundation.com, 979-845-2311 or toll free at 1-888-99-AGGIE. Tickets are also available in person beginning one hour before the match at Ellis Field.
AGGIES LOOK TO EXTEND 15-WIN SEASON STRETCH TO 11 YEARS
With their 18-5-2 mark last season, the Aggies posted their 10th consecutive 15-win season dating back to 2004. In their first 21 seasons, the only two years the Aggies have not reached the 15-win plateau are 1998 (14-8) and 2003 (13-6-3). The school record for victories stands at 20, set in 2002 with a 20-5-1 mark.
NIP-AND-TUCK
Over the last two years the Aggies have fared well in tightly contest matches, going 15-4-3 in matches decided by one goal or less. This season, A&M has posted one-goal wins over Dayton (4-3), Stephen F. Austin (1-0), Florida Gulf Coast (2-1), Ole Miss (2-1) and Kentucky (2-1), but played Arizona to a 2-2 draw and suffered a 2-1 defeat at Arizona State and 1-0 loss to Florida.
In 2013, Texas A&M played 14 matches decided by one goal or less, posting a 10-2-2 record in those contests. Nine of the Aggies' last 10 wins were decided by one goal, including three victories at the SEC Tournament and their NCAA Championship first round win against Utah. A&M's only blemishes in close matches were 1-0 losses against Duke and Tennessee and a 0-0 draw against Baylor. The Aggies also played to a 2-2 draw against Texas Tech in the NCAA Championship second round, but advanced to the third round on penalty kicks.
MONOGUE CLIMBING THE CAREER POINTS LIST
Kelley Monogue currently ranks sixth on the Aggies' career points list with 109. Against LSU, Monogue scored a goal to pass Kristen Strutz (104 - 2000-03) for fifth place on the list. She has a bit of work to do to catch Nicky Thrasher (140 - 1997-2001) for fourth place on the list. Ashlee Pistorius (2004-07) owns the school record with 194 points followed by Bryn Blalack (1994-197) with 192. During her healthiest campaign, Monogue logged 47 points as a freshman in 2011. Recovering from a knee injury in 2012, the McKinney, Texas native logged 20 points. Last season, she registered 17 points as she still felt the effects of the earlier ailment.
MONOGUE CLIMBING THE CAREER GOALS LIST
With her goal against Illinois State, Kelley Monogue became the fifth player in school history to log 40 career goals. She is now up to 44 goals at Texas A&M. The McKinney native trails only Ashlee Pistorius (81 - 2004-07), Bryn Blalack (79 - 1994-97), Nicky Thrasher (57 - 1997-2001) and Kristen Koop (55 - 1993-96). Monogue was A&M's leading goal scorer as a freshman with 19 tallies in 2011. She added 10 in 2012 and six in 2013.
GROOM AND KUNZ CLIMBING THE CAREER GOALS LIST
Shea Groom enters play with 37 career goals, tied with Heather Ragsdale for seventh place on A&M's all-time list. Annie Kunz enters play with 35 career goals for ninth place on the A&M all-time list. The next target on the list for the Kunz is Groom and Ragsdale in seventh place with 37 goals. Melissa Garey (2004-07) in sixth place with 39 goals is within striking distance for Groom. Kunz tallied 14 goals as a freshman and 13 as a sophomore. Hampered by an injury that held her out of four games and limited her to a reserve role most of the 2013 campaign, Kunz managed just five goals in 2013. Groom was limited by injury in her freshman campaign, with six goals in just 10 matches and added five as a sophomore, but she's come on strong the last two seasons with 14 goals in 2013 and eight this year.
SERIES VS. AUBURN
The Aggies are 3-1-0 all-time against the Tigers, with Auburn being just one of three SEC teams to score a win over A&M since the Aggies joined the league in 2012, toppling the Maroon and White, 2-0, in the semifinal of the 2012 SEC Tournament. A&M returned the favor in 2013, knocking Auburn out of the quarterfinal of the SEC Tournament that year. The Aggies have won both regular-season meetings between the teams, posting a 2-0 win in College Station in 2012 and a 3-1 victory over the Tigers in Auburn last season.
Last season at the SEC Tournament quarterfinal, Allie Bailey notched the only goal of the match in the 17th minute putting home the rebound of a shot by Shea Groom. Jordan Day needed just one save for the shutout. In last year's regular-season meeting, Tori Ball scored in the fourth minute for Auburn, but Bailey knotted the game with a Bailey goal in the 10th minute and Leigh Edwards (68') and Annie Kunz (86') added second-half goals.
At the 2012 SEC Tournament, Auburn was able to eliminate Texas A&M in the semifinal despite the Aggies owning a 19-6 edge in shots. Maddie Barnes and Tatiana Coleman scored goals in the 50th and 64th minute, respectively. Amy Howard made nine saves in goal, but Auburn also needed to clears off the goalline by the defense to keep the shutout intact. In the Aggies' regular-season win over Auburn in 2012, Catalina Clavijo scored in the 38th minute and Beth West added a second goal in the 86th minute. Day recorded the shutout with four saves.
SCOUTING AUBURN
Auburn enters Friday's match with a 7-4-3 overall mark and a 1-2-3 mark in SEC play. The Tigers started the season 5-1, but have gone 2-3-3 since suffering an upset loss against Samford (2-1).
Auburn beat No. 25 Missouri (3-2) in their last match to snap a stretch of going 0-2-3 in league play, including ties against Vanderbilt (0-0), Ole Miss (2-2) and Tennessee (0-0) and losses to South Carolina (2-1) and Kentucky (2-1). The Tigers have non-conference wins against Furman (2-1), UC Irvine (3-0), Georgia Sourthern (3-0), Memphis (3-0), Minnesota (3-1) and Milwaukee (2-0) and non-conference losses against Clemson (2-1) and Samford.
Auburn has six different players with a team-high three goals, including Kristen Dodson, Casie Ramsier, Courtney Schell, Brooke Ramsier, Ellie Leek and Logan Beal. Dodson has 14 points with eight assists. Alyse Scott has played all 1,329 minutes in goal with six shutouts and a 0.95 goals-against average.
The Tigers have 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, all coming in the last 13 seasons. Auburn won an SEC regular-season title in 2002 and seven SEC Western Division crowns (2001, '02, '03, '04, '06, '08, '10). The Tigers won an SEC Tournament title in 2011, running the gauntlet of LSU (3-0), Tennessee (2-0) and Florida (3-2).
SERIES VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
The Aggies are 2-0-0 all-time against Mississippi State, outscoring the Bulldogs 10-0 in the two victories.
In the first-ever meeting, the two squads played through a torrential downpour that resulted in standing water at various locations on the pitch. Jayne Eadie gave A&M a lead in the fifth minute and Shea Groom added a second goal in the 12th minute.
Last season, the Aggies overwhelmed the Bulldogs with goals early and often. Allie Bailey scored 28 seconds into the match and Groom followed up with a tally in the 14th minute. Meghan Streight added a pair of goals in the 31st and 34th minute and an Ana Cruz tally gave A&M a 5-0 lead at the intermission. Groom, Annie Kunz and Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar closed out the scoring in the rout. Jordan Day and Renee McDermott each played a half in goal, but did not have to make a save in the shutout.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
Mississippi State enters the weekend with a 3-10-0 overall record and a 0-6-0 mark in SEC play. The Bulldogs have been outscored 18-2 in their six league matches with losses to Ole Miss (1-0), Kentucky (3-0), Tennessee (4-0), LSU (2-0), Georgia (3-1) and Florida (5-1). In non-conference action, Mississippi State scored wins over Southern Mississippi (2-1 ot), Arkansas State (5-0) and Louisiana Tech (2-1). The Bulldogs suffered non-conference losses to Iowa State (5-1), Cincinnati (1-0), Furman (2-1) and South Alabama (2-0).
Shannen Jainudeen leads Mississippi State in scoring with 15 points on seven goals and one assist. Mallory Eubanks has six points with one goal and four assists. Rhylee DeCrane has seen a majority of the action in goal, logging a 2.08 goals-against average and 44 saves in 778 minutes of action. Tanya de Souza has a 2.65 goals-against average and 28 saves in 408 minutes.
Mississippi State is looking for a signature win to build to the future. The Bulldogs have not posted a winning season since the 2009 campaign when they went 9-8-2. Mississippi State will need a late run to make their first SEC Tournament since 2004.
GUERRIERI RANKS AMONG THE NATION'S WINNINGEST COACHES
Texas A&M head coach G Guerrieri ranks among the leaders in winning percentage and victories among active Division I coaches. With a career record of 383-120-28 (.748), he ranks fifth in victories and fifth in winning percentage (minimum five years as a Division I head coach). Guerrieri ranks sixth all-time among NCAA Division I coaches in victories, trailing North Carolina's Anson Dorrance (774), Connecticut's Len Tsantiris (520), Florida's Becky Burleigh (430), Santa Clara's Jerry Smith (419) and Randy Waldrum (400), who left Notre Dame in the off-season to become head coach of the Houston Dash of the NWSL.
CHALLENGING NON-CONFERENCE SLATE
The non-conference slate was one of the toughest on record for the Aggies. All eight opponents finished in the Top 100 in the final RPI last season, with Arizona being the lowest rated team at 83. Marquette (6), UCF (13), Stephen F Austin (51), Arizona State (60), Illinois State (66), Florida Gulf Coast (67), Dayton (70) and Arizona finished last season with an average RPI of 52 compared to last year's eight non-conference opponents owning an average RPI of 101.
FACING CHAMPIONS
Texas A&M's non-conference schedule was challenging with six of the eight opponents having won their league's regular-season title in 2013. The Aggies went 6-0 against the champions, outscoring the crop, 17-5. The defending league champions on the non-conference slate included Dayton (Atlantic 10), Stephen F. Austin (Southland), UCF (The American), Illinois State (Missouri Valley), FGCU (Atlantic Sun) and Marquette (Big East). All six teams were selected to repeat as 2014 champions in their league's respective preseason coaches' polls. The two non-conference opponents who did not win conference titles last year are Arizona and Arizona State, who both finished in the middle of the powerhouse Pac 12 Conference that produced national champion UCLA.
THREE THIRTY-GOAL SCORERS
For the first time since the end of the 1996 campaign, the Aggies are fielding three players with 30 or more career goals. Kelley Monogue leads the triumvirate with 44 goals. Shea Groom recently went over the 30-goal mark and has scored seven goals in the last four matches to increase her career tally to 37. Annie Kunz has 36 goals to round out the trio, scoring her first goal of the season in A&M's 4-1 win over LSU and adding a pair at Vanderbilt.
HIGH-SCORING TRIO
The Aggies roster boasts three of the 26 active players with 80 or more career points. Kelley Monogue ranks fifth among all active players with 109 points. Shea Groom ranks 14th with 94 points. Annie Kunz reports in at 22nd with 82 points. The only other squad with multiple players on the list is Virginia with Morgan Brian in seventh with 104 points and Makenzy Doniak in ninth with 100 points.
THE NCAA'S MOST EXPERIENCED SQUAD
The Aggies boast one of the most experienced squad in the nation for 2014. Currently, Texas A&M has six of the top 14 active players in terms of matches played. Allie Bailey and Meghan Streight enter the weekend tied for fourth among all active players with 88 matches. Kelley Monogue is in eighth place with 86 matches under her belt. Leigh Edwards is tied with Florida's Annie Speese for ninth place with 86 matches. Annie Kunz and Bianca Brinson are tied for 11th place with 84 matches.
Active Leaders, Matches Played
1. Kristin Grubka, Florida State - 92
Jamia Fields, Florida State - 92
3. Whitney Church, Penn State - 90
4. Allie Bailey, Texas A&M - 88
Meghan Streight, Texas A&M - 88
Emily Hurd, Penn State - 88
Danielle Colaprico, Virginia - 88
8. Kelley Monogue, Texas A&M - 87
9. Leigh Edwards, Texas A&M - 86
Annie Speese, Florida - 86
11. Bianca Brinson, Texas A&M - 84
Annie Kunz, Texas A&M - 84
Jen Martin, UCF - 84
Kori Chapic, Penn State - 84
MONOGUE AMONG TOP ACTIVE PLAYERS IN GOALS SCORED
Kelley Monogue enters the week ranked sixth among all active players in goals scored with 44. Illinois State's Rachel Tejada leads the nation with 64, followed by Winthrop's Krystyna Freda with 60 and LaSalle's Kelsey Haycook with 51. SFA's Chelsea Raymond and Hofstra's Sam Scolarici are tied for fourth with 46 goals apiece.
Active Leaders, Goals Scored
1. Rachel Tejada, Illinois State - 64
2. Krystyna Freda, Winthrop - 60
3. Kelsey Haycook, LaSalle - 51
4. Chelsea Raymond, Stephen F. Austin - 46
Sam Scolarici, Hofstra - 46
6. Kelley Monogue, Texas A&M - 44
AGED ARSENAL
92 of the Aggies' 107 points and 34 of the 37 goals this season have been scored by seniors. Shea Groom (12), Kelley Monogue (9), Bianca Brinson (4), Allie Bailey (4), Annie Kunz (3), Leigh Edwards (1) and Meghan Streight (1) account for the 34 senior goals. Janae Cousineau (2) and Haley Pounds (1) have accounted for the three goals by a non-senior.
SET PIECE SUCCESS
Twelve of the Aggies' 37 goals this season have come on set pieces, including five corner kicks, five free kicks, one throw-in and one penalty kick. A&M scored on a corner kick in each of the first four matches of the season. In their SEC opener against Tennessee, Shea Groom scored off a free kick and a throw-in en route to her second career hat trick.
ONE-TWO PUNCH
The Aggies boast one of the most prominent one-two scoring punches in the nation this season. Shea Groom (12) and Kelley Monogue (9) rank first and third, respectively, in the SEC in goals scored and they're tied for ninth and 41st, respectively, nationally.
Groom (26 - 12 goals and 2 assists) and Monogue (25 - 9 goals and 7 assists) also rank first and second, respectively, in the SEC in points and they're tied for 16th and 21st, respectively, nationally. A&M is the only SEC squad with two or more 25-point scorers this season and one of just two teams in the nation (East Tennessee State boasts three players with 25 or more points).
LONE STAR DOMINANCE
Since the 2008 season, the Aggies own a 20-0-5 mark against in-state rivals, including an 11-0-4 record against their former Big 12 Conference colleagues. Last season, A&M went 1-0-2 against Lone Star foe, topping UTSA, 1-0, in the second game of the season, tying Baylor, 0-0, in the sixth game, and tying Texas Tech, 2-2, in the NCAA Second Round, eventually advancing on penalty kicks. This year, the Aggies dropped Stephen F. Austin, 1-0, on August 24.
30-20 CLUB
There are 11 active NCAA Division I players with 30 or more goals and 20 or more assists and Texas A&M boasts two of them. Kelley Monogue has 44 goals and 21 assists and Shea Groom has 37 goals and 20 assists. Virginia is the only other team with multiple players in the 30-20 club (Morgan Brian 35 g, 34 a; Makenzy Doniak 39 g, 22 a).
SHE'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT
Bianca “B.B.” Brinson has a pair of last minute goals this season that have altered the results of Aggie games. In A&M's 2-2 tie against Arizona, Brinson scored her second goal of the match with 33 seconds remaining as the Maroon and White staved off defeat. In the Aggies' home match against Kentucky, Brinson tallied a goal with 52 second remaining to send A&M to a 2-1 victory.
RPI NOTES
The Aggies enter the weekend with a No. 5 ranking in the RPI released by the NCAA on October 13. All 14 of A&M's opponents are in the top 120, including 12 in the Top 100 and five in the Top 50. Texas A&M is 9-2-1 against RPI Top 100 squads and 3-2-1 against RPI Top 50.
The remainder of the Aggies' schedule offers challenges with four of the last five opponents ranked in the RPI Top 40. A&M will close out the regular-season against current No. 16 South Carolina and No. 21 Georgia. The lone squad that could weigh down A&M's RPI is Mississippi State which currently punches in at 203.
UP NEXT
The Aggies return to action next Friday when they travel to Arkansas for a 7 pm match against the Razorbacks. It marks second consecutive weekend where the Maroon and White play one match on the road and one match at home.