Texas A&M Faces Rice Saturday at Ellis Field

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M Aggies play their second match of the spring Saturday as they host the Rice Owls 7 p.m. at Ellis Field.

The contest will be free to spectators.

The Aggies were impressive in their spring debut, toppling Incarnate Word, 6-0. Emily Bates led the scoring attack with two goals and one assist and Ally Watt notched one goal and two assists. Brittany Crabtree, Grace Piper and Haley Pounds scored goals and Mikaela Harvey and Addie McCain added one assist each.

Texas A&M returns 16 letterwinners from the 2016 campaign, including nine of 12 starters (started at least 50% of A&M's matches). The returnees account for 24 of the Aggies' 27 goals from last season and the Maroon and White add the potent Watt who redshirted last season while playing for the United States U20 Women's National Team. Texas A&M welcomes back All-American Harvey, along with fellow All-SEC performer Pounds and former SEC All-Freshman honorees Bates, Piper and Watt.

Fans will get a nearly full preview of the 2017 squad as 25 of the 27 players who will be on the fall roster are in spring camp. The only players not in camp are incoming freshmen Jimena Lopez Fuentes and Rheagen Smith.

Last season, Rice, coached by Aggie Hall of Famer Nicky (Thrasher) Adams, finished 11-5-1 overall and placed second in Conference USA with an 8-2 mark. The Owls' top returners include 2016 Conference USA Midfielder of the Year Samantha Chaiken and All-Conference USA First Team forward Nia Stallings. Chaiken notched two goals on the year and starred on a defense that posted a 1.04 goals-against average and seven shutouts. Stallings registered 17 points on five goals and seven assists.

The Aggies finished the 2016 season with a 12-8-2 record. The Maroon and White appeared in their 22nd consecutive NCAA Division I Championship and advanced to the Second Round for the 19th consecutive year.