Each week 12thMan.com will touch base with a newcomer to the Aggie soccer squad. This week freshman Addie McCain chatted about her selection of Texas A&M and her first days in the Maroon and White.
At what point in the recruiting process did you decide to come to Texas A&M?
"Towards the end. Well, I kind of grew up being an Aggie. Both my parents went here and in the back of my mind I always thought 'I'm probably going to be an Aggie', but I wanted to be able to compare it to other places. At the end it was here and a school that was a little further away. It really came down to A&M had everything that I wanted – a great program, great coaches, great girls."
What was the deciding factor?
"It's a great program with an awesome staff and awesome traditions here. Plus it's close to home. My family can come out and see me play which I love.
What do you remember most from your recruiting trip to Texas A&M?
"I think I remember most girls dancing in the locker room. That was always fun and kind of awkward. It just made you feel like it was lighthearted and everyone liked each other. It was just a good place to be."
What are your earliest memories of playing soccer?
"I remember playing for a team called the Angels and my mom was the coach. We were light blue. That's about all I've got for you."
When did you realize you were really good at soccer and could play on the Division I level?
"I actually played both soccer and softball competitively and they got to where they started colliding. Both my coaches would get mad if I chose the other, but my soccer coach would get less mad so that made me want to choose soccer a little more. Then, I was able to just focus on one and kind of go from there."
How beneficial was enrolling early and taking part in the spring workouts?
"I think it was really beneficial getting used to the girls. That was what I was most nervous for - mixing in with the team and finding out where I could fit in, making friends and stuff. From that standpoint, I think it was really beneficial."
How was your development on the field this spring?
"I think it was good. I was able to get a feel for the speed of the game. There was a lot of work with Tom [Milroy] and getting stronger as well as fitter."
What have you been working on with the coaches?
"I think my main goal is to work on attacking. I've been really focused on defending, kind of playing safe. My goal is to get out of that comfort zone and be able to be a threat in the attacking half of the field for our team."
What would you say your strength is?
"I would say my vision, playing the ball and getting the ball to people to score."
How was the first road trip?
"Oh, it was awesome. Yeah, coming back with two wins versus two good teams, it was awesome."
How do you think your first collegiate game went?
"It felt good. It's good to get the first one out of the way. It's always a little nerve-wracking but to get the first one out of the way is good. I just want to continue to keep getting better from here."
What is your major and your career goals?
"It is early. I'm a communication major. I don't know exactly what I want to do with it. I've kind of pondered with the idea of being in the FBI, but I really don't know. I'm sure it'll change multiple times."
What's the main difference you've noticed between high school or elite club soccer and collegiate soccer?
"Definitely the speed of play. It's a crazy difference and you just don't have as much time on the ball. You've got to know what you want to do with it before you get it and be able to move off the ball quickly."
How have you been treated by the seniors and upperclassmen?
"They've been incredible. They don't act like upperclassmen. They don't try to big time you or act like they've been here before, done it all because they have. They know what it felt like so they've just been people to go to, give you tips and they're people that're good to talk to."
At what point in the recruiting process did you decide to come to Texas A&M?
"Towards the end. Well, I kind of grew up being an Aggie. Both my parents went here and in the back of my mind I always thought 'I'm probably going to be an Aggie', but I wanted to be able to compare it to other places. At the end it was here and a school that was a little further away. It really came down to A&M had everything that I wanted – a great program, great coaches, great girls."
What was the deciding factor?
"It's a great program with an awesome staff and awesome traditions here. Plus it's close to home. My family can come out and see me play which I love.
What do you remember most from your recruiting trip to Texas A&M?
"I think I remember most girls dancing in the locker room. That was always fun and kind of awkward. It just made you feel like it was lighthearted and everyone liked each other. It was just a good place to be."
What are your earliest memories of playing soccer?
"I remember playing for a team called the Angels and my mom was the coach. We were light blue. That's about all I've got for you."
When did you realize you were really good at soccer and could play on the Division I level?
"I actually played both soccer and softball competitively and they got to where they started colliding. Both my coaches would get mad if I chose the other, but my soccer coach would get less mad so that made me want to choose soccer a little more. Then, I was able to just focus on one and kind of go from there."
How beneficial was enrolling early and taking part in the spring workouts?
"I think it was really beneficial getting used to the girls. That was what I was most nervous for - mixing in with the team and finding out where I could fit in, making friends and stuff. From that standpoint, I think it was really beneficial."
How was your development on the field this spring?
"I think it was good. I was able to get a feel for the speed of the game. There was a lot of work with Tom [Milroy] and getting stronger as well as fitter."
What have you been working on with the coaches?
"I think my main goal is to work on attacking. I've been really focused on defending, kind of playing safe. My goal is to get out of that comfort zone and be able to be a threat in the attacking half of the field for our team."
What would you say your strength is?
"I would say my vision, playing the ball and getting the ball to people to score."
How was the first road trip?
"Oh, it was awesome. Yeah, coming back with two wins versus two good teams, it was awesome."
How do you think your first collegiate game went?
"It felt good. It's good to get the first one out of the way. It's always a little nerve-wracking but to get the first one out of the way is good. I just want to continue to keep getting better from here."
What is your major and your career goals?
"It is early. I'm a communication major. I don't know exactly what I want to do with it. I've kind of pondered with the idea of being in the FBI, but I really don't know. I'm sure it'll change multiple times."
What's the main difference you've noticed between high school or elite club soccer and collegiate soccer?
"Definitely the speed of play. It's a crazy difference and you just don't have as much time on the ball. You've got to know what you want to do with it before you get it and be able to move off the ball quickly."
How have you been treated by the seniors and upperclassmen?
"They've been incredible. They don't act like upperclassmen. They don't try to big time you or act like they've been here before, done it all because they have. They know what it felt like so they've just been people to go to, give you tips and they're people that're good to talk to."