Aggies Release 2017 Non-Conference Slate

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies released a challenging non-conference schedule for the 2017 campaign, soccer head coach G Guerrieri announced Monday.
 
"This season we'll have 10 home regular-season matches and two home exhibitions," Guerrieri said. "It's an exciting schedule filled with a variety of challenges every week. Our fans will be able to see some old rivals and several new foes coming to Ellis Field for the first time."
 
The non-conference regular-season slate features eight teams that combined to post a .556 winning percentage (79-61-21) in 2016, including three teams that played in the NCAA Championship. Six of the eight opponents finished in the top 80 in RPI, including two teams in the top 50 – Kansas (25) and Pepperdine (41).
 
The Aggies officially commence the 2017 campaign with a road trip to San Diego to face a pair of West Coast Conference teams. The Maroon and White play a neutral site match against WCC champion Pepperdine Waves on Friday, August 18 to start the season and two days later the Aggies face the San Diego Toreros.
 
Texas A&M opens the home schedule on Saturday, August 26 when they host the Oregon Ducks.
 
The following weekend, the Maroon and White host former Big 12 foe Oklahoma State Cowgirls on September 1 and Big East power DePaul Blue Demons on September 3.
 
The Aggies have a split weekend the next week with a home contest against the Butler Bulldogs on September 8 and a road match at the former Big 12 rival Kansas Jayhawks on September 10.
 
Texas A&M closes out the non-conference schedule on September 17 with a home match against the Cal State Fullerton Titans.
 
"Oregon, DePaul, and Butler will experience the thrill of playing in front of the 12th Man," Guerrieri said. "And I'm personally excited to have Fullerton, Oklahoma State, and Kansas back on the schedule for the first time in quite a while."
 
All of Texas A&M's regular-season home matches will be streamed on SEC Network+.
 
"We will also play five home and five away matches within the Southeastern Conference, but won't release information on those matches until the SEC Network television lineup is determined in the next few weeks," Guerrieri added.
 
Texas A&M wrapped up the 2016 season with a 12-8-2 mark. The Maroon and White earned a bid to their 22nd consecutive NCAA Championship and advanced to the second round of the tournament for the 19th straight season.
 
The Aggies 16 letterwinners from the 2016 campaign, including nine of 12 starters (players who started 50 percent or more matches). The returnees account for 24 of the Aggies' 27 goals from last season and the Maroon and White add the potent Ally Watt who redshirted last season while playing for the United States U20 Women's National Team. Texas A&M welcomes back All-American Mikaela Harvey, along with fellow All-SEC performer Haley Pounds and former SEC All-Freshman honorees Emily Bates, Grace Piper and Watt.
 
"Our 2017 team is loaded with dynamic, talented, and highly motivated players," Guerrieri said. "Anyone who witnessed any of our recent spring exhibition games knows how exciting a level of soccer this team plays at and how special 2017 can be for Texas A&M."
 
Texas A&M's first action of the season will come on Sunday, August 6 when the Aggies host the Sam Houston State Bearkats in a 7 pm exhibition match at Ellis Field. On August 10, the Maroon and White play another exhibition match with a 7 pm fixture against the Northwestern State Lady Devils.
 
 
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
2017 NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
 

Sunday	August 6	SAM HOUSTON STATE [Exhibition]	7 pm
Wednesday	August 10	NORTHWESTERN STATE [Exhibition]	7 pm
Friday	August 18	vs. Pepperdine	tba
Sunday	August 20	at San Diego	tba
Saturday	August 26	OREGON	TBA
Friday	September 1	OKLAHOMA STATE	TBA
Sunday	September 3	DEPAUL	TBA
Friday	September 8	BUTLER	TBA
Sunday	September 10	at Kansas	tba
Sunday	September 17	CAL STATE FULLERTON	TBA

 
Home matches in BOLD CAPS