Since the earliest years of the program, defense has always been a calling card for Aggie Soccer. Going back to the 1990s when All-Americans like Claire Elliott and Amber Reynolds anchored the backline, getting a shot on target against the Maroon & White has always been a tall task. This year will be no different, as Texas A&M boasts one of the most athletic backlines in program annals, including a corps that owns the skills to possess the ball more than any to come through Aggieland.
Coach G's Take – "Our backline will have a different look than it has had in past years. Texas A&M backlines are always very athletic and that is the case again this year. But I think this year, we have one of the best soccer playing groups of defenders that we have had, maybe ever. We've got people who can hold the ball and play different positions on the field besides defender. The fact that they are good individual defenders and solid with the ball makes them that much more valuable."
JIMENA LOPEZ
Lopez started in 21 games for Texas A&M with nine goals, 15 assists and 33 total points in 1,621 minutes. She set Texas A&M's single-season mark and led the SEC with 15 assists. The seasoned veteran ranked third in the nation in assists and assists per game (0.71). She ranked in the top 10 in the league in points per game (2nd – 1.57), points (3rd), game winning goals (4th – 4) and goals (9th) through her junior campaign. The Mexico City, native earned SEC Midfielder of the Year and All SEC First Team recognition. She garnered United States Coaches (USC) Scholar All-American Second Team and USC All-Southeast Region First Team accolades.
Coach G's Take – "Jimena is a world class defender and outside back. She has unbelievable range and fitness in the way she can run the entire sideline for 90 minutes. She was one of the nation's leaders in assists last year and an All-America for us. She is someone who is a leader and captain for the team but also a great presence we need during training and in game days."
MACIE KOLB
Kolb played in 22 matches, including 19 starts for a total of 1,476 minutes for the Maroon & White. The McKinney, Texas native registered nine points on the season with three goals and three assists. She was awarded the 2019 Texas A&M Most Improved Player, as well as being named to the 2019 Academic All-District 7 First Team.
Coach G's Take – "Macie is a player who has really come into her own now that she is a junior. She has played as an outside midfielder for us and as a back. You'll see her in a very similar role to what Jimena Lopez does on the left side. She has incredible rang and capacity for her work. She is fast, clever on the ball and one of the smartest kids at Texas A&M overall. She knows how to use the right spaces to exploit her opponents."
KARLINA SAMPLE
Sample started in 10 games on the backline for the Maroon & White, for a total of 822 minutes of action, before a season-ending injury at Florida. The Frisco, Texas, native ranked second on the team with 82.2 minutes per game. She played the entirety of six matches, including two games of 110 minutes. Sample made appearances in seven shut outs for the Aggies. In the 10 matches Sample played in, Texas A&M yielded just seven goals (0.70). When she didn't see action, the Aggies gave up 15 goals in 12 matches (1.25).
Coach G's Take – "Karlina is one of the best defenders Texas A&M has ever seen. She is a natural leader and has the physical attributes to help her be comfortable, reading the game better than anyone else. She is someone who leads by example as well as a leading from the front. When she went down with an injury last year, which had a massive negative effect on the way we were able to defend opponents and even in keeping possessions. It is exciting to have her back in the lineup."
KATIE SMITH
Smith saw action in all 22 matches, including 11 starts, in her rookie campaign. The dual-threat racked up 1,323 minutes tallying three assists while seeing action in the midfield before playing on the backline after a string of injuries. She started in six of the 10 conference games and earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team. The Texas A&M Newcomer of the Year finished her 2019 campaign with an assist in the 2-1 loss at No. 9 USC in the Second Round of the NCAA Championship Tournament.
Coach G's Take – "Katie is a player who has played as a forward as well as a defender in her youth career. We moved her to the backline at the end of last season and she has improved immensely during that time. She is one of our best one verses one defenders that we have had in a long time at Texas A&M. She is fast and has a long lean body type that allows her to get on the end of balls and beat other defenders. She is able to feel comfortable bringing the ball forward from the back into the midfield and beyond."
SAWYER DUMOND
Dumond comes to Aggieland with a multitude of achievements under her belt. The Thousand Oaks, California, native was a member of Real So Cal for two seasons. She saw action in 20 matches, including four starts during the 2019-20 United States Soccer Development Academy campaign with their U18/19 squad. In the 2018-19 cycle, she participated in 34 matches, with 21 starts with the U16/17 team. Dumond was a member of the varsity team at Westlake High School in 2017-18. She helped lead the squad to the California Interscholastic Federation Tournament both years.
Coach G's Take – "Dumond is a tough, aggressive and smooth defender. She comes from a culture of building out of the back and keeping possession of the ball. She does a fantastic job doing that and is also a hard-nosed tackler. She is someone who is going to very successful."
LAUREN GECZIK
Geczik, along with Westyn Henderson, provides depth to the backline as a converted forward who will help the team bring versatility and ball possession to the backline. She is a four-year letterwinner at St. Agnes Academy. Geczik guided her squad to TAPPS 6A State Runner-up finishes in 2017 and '19 along with district titles in 2017 and '18. She was named an Allstate All-American as a junior and played for Brandi Chastain in the Allstate All-America Cup in July 2019. Her other honors as a junior included TAPPS Division I All-State, TAPPS 6A All-Tournament Team, TAPPS Academic All-Texas, TAPPS All-District 4-1, TopDrawerSoccer All-Texas and TopDrawerSoccer All-South Texas Region. She earned TAPPS Division I All-State Second Team and TAPPS All-District 3-1 as a sophomore in 2018.
Coach G's Take – "LG is strong and physical in the way she wins balls. She is smooth with the ball at her feet and has great change of pace. She can run the entire sideline, so it's not uncommon to see her one minute at the backline and the next minute she is up in the opponent's penalty area."
WESTYN HENDERSON
Henderson, muck like Geczik, stacks to the backline with players who can play stout defense and then immediately transition to an offensive threat with her ability to possess and distribute. She is a four-year letterwinner at McAllen High School. Henderson was named an Allstate All-American as a junior and played for Brandi Chastain in the Allstate All-America Cup in July 2019. The list of other honors earned in 2019 included District 36-6A MVP, TopDrawerSoccer All-Texas and TopDrawerSoccer All-South Texas Region. Henderson led the squad to a 6A State Semifinal appearance as a sophomore 2018, earning a spot on the UIL State Class 6A All-Tournament Team.
Coach G's Take – Westyn is a player who can play all up and down the right flank. She can play as a winger or as a forward. She is really good in the midfield as well as an individual defender. She does a great job in helping us transition from defending to attacking. You'll see her here as an outside wing back with her explosive and athletic demeanor."
Coach G's Take – "Our backline will have a different look than it has had in past years. Texas A&M backlines are always very athletic and that is the case again this year. But I think this year, we have one of the best soccer playing groups of defenders that we have had, maybe ever. We've got people who can hold the ball and play different positions on the field besides defender. The fact that they are good individual defenders and solid with the ball makes them that much more valuable."
JIMENA LOPEZ
Lopez started in 21 games for Texas A&M with nine goals, 15 assists and 33 total points in 1,621 minutes. She set Texas A&M's single-season mark and led the SEC with 15 assists. The seasoned veteran ranked third in the nation in assists and assists per game (0.71). She ranked in the top 10 in the league in points per game (2nd – 1.57), points (3rd), game winning goals (4th – 4) and goals (9th) through her junior campaign. The Mexico City, native earned SEC Midfielder of the Year and All SEC First Team recognition. She garnered United States Coaches (USC) Scholar All-American Second Team and USC All-Southeast Region First Team accolades.
Coach G's Take – "Jimena is a world class defender and outside back. She has unbelievable range and fitness in the way she can run the entire sideline for 90 minutes. She was one of the nation's leaders in assists last year and an All-America for us. She is someone who is a leader and captain for the team but also a great presence we need during training and in game days."
MACIE KOLB
Kolb played in 22 matches, including 19 starts for a total of 1,476 minutes for the Maroon & White. The McKinney, Texas native registered nine points on the season with three goals and three assists. She was awarded the 2019 Texas A&M Most Improved Player, as well as being named to the 2019 Academic All-District 7 First Team.
Coach G's Take – "Macie is a player who has really come into her own now that she is a junior. She has played as an outside midfielder for us and as a back. You'll see her in a very similar role to what Jimena Lopez does on the left side. She has incredible rang and capacity for her work. She is fast, clever on the ball and one of the smartest kids at Texas A&M overall. She knows how to use the right spaces to exploit her opponents."
KARLINA SAMPLE
Sample started in 10 games on the backline for the Maroon & White, for a total of 822 minutes of action, before a season-ending injury at Florida. The Frisco, Texas, native ranked second on the team with 82.2 minutes per game. She played the entirety of six matches, including two games of 110 minutes. Sample made appearances in seven shut outs for the Aggies. In the 10 matches Sample played in, Texas A&M yielded just seven goals (0.70). When she didn't see action, the Aggies gave up 15 goals in 12 matches (1.25).
Coach G's Take – "Karlina is one of the best defenders Texas A&M has ever seen. She is a natural leader and has the physical attributes to help her be comfortable, reading the game better than anyone else. She is someone who leads by example as well as a leading from the front. When she went down with an injury last year, which had a massive negative effect on the way we were able to defend opponents and even in keeping possessions. It is exciting to have her back in the lineup."
KATIE SMITH
Smith saw action in all 22 matches, including 11 starts, in her rookie campaign. The dual-threat racked up 1,323 minutes tallying three assists while seeing action in the midfield before playing on the backline after a string of injuries. She started in six of the 10 conference games and earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team. The Texas A&M Newcomer of the Year finished her 2019 campaign with an assist in the 2-1 loss at No. 9 USC in the Second Round of the NCAA Championship Tournament.
Coach G's Take – "Katie is a player who has played as a forward as well as a defender in her youth career. We moved her to the backline at the end of last season and she has improved immensely during that time. She is one of our best one verses one defenders that we have had in a long time at Texas A&M. She is fast and has a long lean body type that allows her to get on the end of balls and beat other defenders. She is able to feel comfortable bringing the ball forward from the back into the midfield and beyond."
SAWYER DUMOND
Dumond comes to Aggieland with a multitude of achievements under her belt. The Thousand Oaks, California, native was a member of Real So Cal for two seasons. She saw action in 20 matches, including four starts during the 2019-20 United States Soccer Development Academy campaign with their U18/19 squad. In the 2018-19 cycle, she participated in 34 matches, with 21 starts with the U16/17 team. Dumond was a member of the varsity team at Westlake High School in 2017-18. She helped lead the squad to the California Interscholastic Federation Tournament both years.
Coach G's Take – "Dumond is a tough, aggressive and smooth defender. She comes from a culture of building out of the back and keeping possession of the ball. She does a fantastic job doing that and is also a hard-nosed tackler. She is someone who is going to very successful."
LAUREN GECZIK
Geczik, along with Westyn Henderson, provides depth to the backline as a converted forward who will help the team bring versatility and ball possession to the backline. She is a four-year letterwinner at St. Agnes Academy. Geczik guided her squad to TAPPS 6A State Runner-up finishes in 2017 and '19 along with district titles in 2017 and '18. She was named an Allstate All-American as a junior and played for Brandi Chastain in the Allstate All-America Cup in July 2019. Her other honors as a junior included TAPPS Division I All-State, TAPPS 6A All-Tournament Team, TAPPS Academic All-Texas, TAPPS All-District 4-1, TopDrawerSoccer All-Texas and TopDrawerSoccer All-South Texas Region. She earned TAPPS Division I All-State Second Team and TAPPS All-District 3-1 as a sophomore in 2018.
Coach G's Take – "LG is strong and physical in the way she wins balls. She is smooth with the ball at her feet and has great change of pace. She can run the entire sideline, so it's not uncommon to see her one minute at the backline and the next minute she is up in the opponent's penalty area."
WESTYN HENDERSON
Henderson, muck like Geczik, stacks to the backline with players who can play stout defense and then immediately transition to an offensive threat with her ability to possess and distribute. She is a four-year letterwinner at McAllen High School. Henderson was named an Allstate All-American as a junior and played for Brandi Chastain in the Allstate All-America Cup in July 2019. The list of other honors earned in 2019 included District 36-6A MVP, TopDrawerSoccer All-Texas and TopDrawerSoccer All-South Texas Region. Henderson led the squad to a 6A State Semifinal appearance as a sophomore 2018, earning a spot on the UIL State Class 6A All-Tournament Team.
Coach G's Take – Westyn is a player who can play all up and down the right flank. She can play as a winger or as a forward. She is really good in the midfield as well as an individual defender. She does a great job in helping us transition from defending to attacking. You'll see her here as an outside wing back with her explosive and athletic demeanor."