Sunday, August 23
College Station
6:00 PM
Texas A&M
vs
Northwestern State
Match Day Preview: Northwestern State
Aug 22, 2015 | Soccer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The No. 5 Texas A&M Aggies open up their 2015 home slate Sunday as they host the Northwestern State Demons in a 6 pm match on Ellis Field.
Coming off a 4-2 win Friday at Rice, the Maroon and White look to start the season 2-0-0 for the second consecutive season after five straight years of starting 1-1-0.
Sunday's match will be available digitally through "SEC Network +" on mobile devices and connected-TVs for SEC Network subscribers whose cable/satellite providers offer access through WatchESPN and SECSports.com.
The Aggies received some historic performances in the victory at Rice. Kate Hajdu became just the fourth Aggie freshman to score two goals in a season opener. Haley Pounds registered the 12th three-assist game in school history.
SERIES VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE
The Aggies are 2-0 all-time against the Demons with both prior meetings coming in NCAA Championship first round action in College Station. In 2002, Texas A&M rolled to an 8-0 win and the Aggies were 7-0 victors in 2005.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN STATE
The Demons return 20 letterwinners and seven starters from a squad that went 6-12-1 in 2014, including a 3-7-1 mark in the Southland Conference. Sophomore Esdeina Gonzalez is the leading scorer among returnees, notching 15 points on seven goals and one assist. Senior Cassandra Briscoe logged 10 points on four goals and two assists.
The Demons have advanced to the NCAA Championship on three occasions, including 2000, 2002 and 2005. Northwestern State was knocked out of the 2002 and 2005 NCAA Championships by the Aggies.
2-0 STARTS
The Aggies are looking to start 2-0 for the 13th time in school history. The Maroon and White went through a five-year spell of starting 1-1 from 2009-13, but regained form last season when they toppled Dayton (4-3) and Stephen F. Austin (1-0).
All-time Texas A&M 2-0 Starts
LONE STAR DOMINANCE
With their win Friday, the Aggies improved to 22-0-5 (.907) mark against in-state rivals, including an 11-0-4 record against their former Big 12 Conference colleagues. This season, A&M is 1-0-0 against teams from Texas, toppling Rice 4-2 in the season opener. Last season, A&M went 2-0-0 against Lone Star foe, dropping Stephen F. Austin, 1-0, on August 24 and Houston Baptist, 5-0, in the NCAA Championship first round.
NOTABLE DEBUT FOR HAJDU
Kate Hajdu became just the fourth Aggie freshman to register two goals in a season opener and the first since Allie Bailey tallied two goals in the season debut against Fresno State (W, 4-2). Others to accomplish the feat included Jessica Hamilton in 2000 (5-0 win vs Central Florida) and Michelle Remington in 1998 (5-1 win vs. North Texas).
AGGIES NOTCH THEIR 200th WIN AT ELLIS FIELD
Texas A&M owns a 206-30-6 (.864) 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 106-14-6 (.865) mark on the friendly pitch. Texas A&M is 213-30-6 (.867) all-time in College Station, going 7-0-0 in their one season at Old Tiger Field.
Aggie Freshmen with Two Goals in a Season Opener
1998 – Michelle Remington (5-1 win vs. North Texas)
2000 – Jessica Hamilton (5-0 win vs Central Florida)
2011 – Allie Bailey (4-2 win vs Fresno State)
2015 – Kate Hajdu (4-2 win at Rice)
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Aggies' opening day lineup included three freshmen. Rookies getting the starting nod included Emily Bates, Brittany Crabtree and Kate Hajdu. Ally Watt also saw action in the opener.
SENSATIONAL SOPHOMORES
After getting a year of seasoning under the auspices of last year's nine-player senior class, Texas A&M's four sophomores came out like gang busters in the season opener. The quartet accounted for two goals and three assists in the 4-2 win over Rice. McKayla Paulson notched the first two goals of her career. Haley Pounds logged three assists on the evening. Paulson, Pounds and Stephanie Mahlerbe all played the entire match. With Mikaela Harvey added to the mix, the foursome accounted for 12 shots and 6 shots-on-goal.
Coming off a 4-2 win Friday at Rice, the Maroon and White look to start the season 2-0-0 for the second consecutive season after five straight years of starting 1-1-0.
Sunday's match will be available digitally through "SEC Network +" on mobile devices and connected-TVs for SEC Network subscribers whose cable/satellite providers offer access through WatchESPN and SECSports.com.
The Aggies received some historic performances in the victory at Rice. Kate Hajdu became just the fourth Aggie freshman to score two goals in a season opener. Haley Pounds registered the 12th three-assist game in school history.
SERIES VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE
The Aggies are 2-0 all-time against the Demons with both prior meetings coming in NCAA Championship first round action in College Station. In 2002, Texas A&M rolled to an 8-0 win and the Aggies were 7-0 victors in 2005.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN STATE
The Demons return 20 letterwinners and seven starters from a squad that went 6-12-1 in 2014, including a 3-7-1 mark in the Southland Conference. Sophomore Esdeina Gonzalez is the leading scorer among returnees, notching 15 points on seven goals and one assist. Senior Cassandra Briscoe logged 10 points on four goals and two assists.
The Demons have advanced to the NCAA Championship on three occasions, including 2000, 2002 and 2005. Northwestern State was knocked out of the 2002 and 2005 NCAA Championships by the Aggies.
2-0 STARTS
The Aggies are looking to start 2-0 for the 13th time in school history. The Maroon and White went through a five-year spell of starting 1-1 from 2009-13, but regained form last season when they toppled Dayton (4-3) and Stephen F. Austin (1-0).
All-time Texas A&M 2-0 Starts
| 1994 | vs. Centenary (4-1); vs. New Mexico (3-0) |
| 1995 | MARQUETTE (7-4); vs. Arkansas (8-3) |
| 1996 | vs Tulane (8-0); at Vanderbilt (4-1) |
| 1997 | OKLAHOMA (2-1); Stanford (2-1) |
| 1999 | OKLAHOMA STATE (4-0); OKLAHOMA (5-0) |
| 2002 | RICE (4-1); SMU (2-1) |
| 2003 | TCU (6-0); SMU (3-1) |
| 2005 | STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (3-0); at TCU (4-0) |
| 2006 | NORTH CAROLINA (1-0); UTSA (7-0) |
| 2007 | DARTMOUTH (2-0); COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (4-0) |
| 2008 | RHODE ISLAND (3-2); MCNEESE STATE (9-0) |
| 2014 | DAYTON (4-3); STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (1-0) |
LONE STAR DOMINANCE
With their win Friday, the Aggies improved to 22-0-5 (.907) mark against in-state rivals, including an 11-0-4 record against their former Big 12 Conference colleagues. This season, A&M is 1-0-0 against teams from Texas, toppling Rice 4-2 in the season opener. Last season, A&M went 2-0-0 against Lone Star foe, dropping Stephen F. Austin, 1-0, on August 24 and Houston Baptist, 5-0, in the NCAA Championship first round.
NOTABLE DEBUT FOR HAJDU
Kate Hajdu became just the fourth Aggie freshman to register two goals in a season opener and the first since Allie Bailey tallied two goals in the season debut against Fresno State (W, 4-2). Others to accomplish the feat included Jessica Hamilton in 2000 (5-0 win vs Central Florida) and Michelle Remington in 1998 (5-1 win vs. North Texas).
AGGIES NOTCH THEIR 200th WIN AT ELLIS FIELD
Texas A&M owns a 206-30-6 (.864) 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 106-14-6 (.865) mark on the friendly pitch. Texas A&M is 213-30-6 (.867) all-time in College Station, going 7-0-0 in their one season at Old Tiger Field.
Aggie Freshmen with Two Goals in a Season Opener
1998 – Michelle Remington (5-1 win vs. North Texas)
2000 – Jessica Hamilton (5-0 win vs Central Florida)
2011 – Allie Bailey (4-2 win vs Fresno State)
2015 – Kate Hajdu (4-2 win at Rice)
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Aggies' opening day lineup included three freshmen. Rookies getting the starting nod included Emily Bates, Brittany Crabtree and Kate Hajdu. Ally Watt also saw action in the opener.
SENSATIONAL SOPHOMORES
After getting a year of seasoning under the auspices of last year's nine-player senior class, Texas A&M's four sophomores came out like gang busters in the season opener. The quartet accounted for two goals and three assists in the 4-2 win over Rice. McKayla Paulson notched the first two goals of her career. Haley Pounds logged three assists on the evening. Paulson, Pounds and Stephanie Mahlerbe all played the entire match. With Mikaela Harvey added to the mix, the foursome accounted for 12 shots and 6 shots-on-goal.
Players Mentioned
F/M
/ Soccer
M/F
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
M
/ Soccer
M
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
Media Availability: Bobby Shuttleworth
Thursday, December 11
Weekly Press Conference: G Guerrieri
Thursday, October 23
The Aggie Soccer Hour (Ep 7)
Wednesday, October 22
Mizzou Postgame: G Guerrieri, Bella Yakel, Kaylee Noble
Thursday, October 16
