Pounds Q&A: The 2017 Campaign is Quickly Approaching

The 2017 campaign is just around the corner and the Aggies report to campus on Tuesday. 12thMan.com had an opportunity to speak with senior standout Haley Pounds regarding the approaching season.
 
How much are you looking forward to the season?
"I'm so excited. I think it's going to be a really good year. It seems like we have all the pieces right now to come together and have an extraordinary year."
 
What's your personal goal for the season?
"In terms of leadership I want to be a really big encourager to the team. On the field I want to continue to score and create chances and the attacking third."
 
What did the team learned from last year's trials and tribulations?
"We learned a lot. We learned that we have to trust each other. We all have to be on the same page. It's a grind. You have to be willing to work hard and stay strong throughout the entire season even when things don't go your way."
 
How exciting it is to have all of the depth on the squad this year?
"It's so exciting. If someone is to get hurt, which hopefully they don't, we can be confident in whoever is going to come in and step up. It's going to be really competitive to start this year. There are so many options and really good players."
 
What improvements have you seen in Ally Watt's play during her year away?
"She's definitely more dangerous in front of the goal. Her shots are pretty much always on target now. Her scoring ability has shot through the roof."
 
How did the early enrollees look this spring?
"They all did awesome. Addie (McCain) looks like she's a senior. She holds her own. Abby Grace (Cooper) is super dangerous attacking wise and she's confident, which we need."
 
Which returning player seemed to improve in the offseason?
"Claudette (Lassandro). In Costa Rica she scored three goals. She seemed like she was really having fun and it looked like she improved a lot this spring."
 
What have you worked on in the offseason?
"I've been working on a lot of things. Scoring is something I need to do a better job of. I need to work on really finishing my chances and those easy opportunities. This year I just want to put everything away."
 
How are you embracing your role as a senior leader?
"I think my role as a leader is to be an encourager so I'm doing the best I can by pointing out the good in other people on our team. Some people are better at pointing out places for improvement but for me it's just about being uplifting."
 
How has your relationship with the three other seniors (Mikaela Harvey, Stephanie Malherbe and McKayla Paulson) evolved since your freshman season?
"We've definitely grown a lot closer. We're all really good friends. We've needed each other through the hard times and we've had so much fun in the good times."
 
How beneficial is it to have those three to share the role as senior leaders?
"It's awesome. I think each of us have our own qualities that our team needs so none of us are the same as leaders. We all bring our own things to the table."
 
How important do you think being a part of the 2014 College Cup team is as far as leading this year's team?
"It's super important because we've been there and we know what it takes to get there. A lot of girls will ask us questions about it so the fact that we have the experience and knowledge of what it takes to get there is super important."
 
How has your experience at Texas A&M lived up to your expectations?
"It's been everything that I could've dreamed of and more. It's been such a blessing to play here. This has been my dream school since I was born. It's been amazing."