Each week, Madeline Osborn of 12thMan.com checks in with a newcomer on the Texas A&M soccer team.
NAOTB: Leah Pirro
What did you know about Texas A&M before the transfer process started?
I honestly didn’t know a whole lot about it. Obviously, they are a power four but coming from California, you don’t hear a whole lot about schools from the south.
What stood out for you the most on your recruiting trip?
It was definitely the campus. As soon as I got to College Station I texted my parents that I needed to come here and it was insane. Coach G, Coach Stephenson, Coach Mautz and Coach Taylor were all awesome but for me, I really loved the campus and the college town vibe.
What's the adjustment been like coming to Aggieland?
It's been very different. I'm not used to a massive school with 75,000 students which is absolutely insane. The first semester I was all online which wasn't that different but now figuring out campus is definitely different but I love it.
What are your thoughts from your first matches on Ellis Field especially the Fish Camp match?
That was not like nothing I've ever experienced. It was the most fans I've ever played in front of ever and the atmosphere was awesome. They were chanting the whole time and the 12th Man was awesome. I feel like you hear about it a lot with other sports but not as much women's soccer at other schools. So to hear them the whole game and as many students and like fans that came in was like a completely different world.
How was your first Kyle Field experience?
It's hard to explain, that was one of the coolest experiences of my life to hear everyone go insane when they played. When they played “Power,” I was videotaping the whole time like saying to my family, "I feel like I'm at a professional game like this is so cool.”
Describe what it is you bring to the team and what you would say your best soccer attributes are?
I think something I can bring is experience this being my fifth year. I've been to the NCAA tournament before, I've been in this situation before, so helping out the younger ones with the transition. I know what it's like to come into a new school. For me, I definitely think my best attribute is my vision of the field. It helps me out a lot and I think it's something that can help this team out as well.
What have the coaches been working on with you as far as personal player development?
I just got moved to outside forward and I've never played that position before so cutting in and getting that back post bending shot has been something that I've really been trying to work on and I was just out with Coach Mautz today working on it. Cutting in and not being afraid to shoot, I think has been the biggest thing, trusting myself and having confidence in myself.
Talk about the work you put in being a weapon on, on free kicks and corner kicks.
I actually hadn't taken a free kick in a very long time and last spring they had me take them just to help the goalies out and I hit a few really nice shots so that for me was new. Since then, Sydney Fuller and I have made it a real priority to work on it at least once a week, stay after practice, hit some free kicks. We either set up the blue man wall or have the inflatable walls and either work on it with the goalie or with someone in goal just so we have a visual. Definitely making it a priority to get out there at least once a week to do it.
So fly fishing?
I love fly fishing, my dad makes his own fly rods and he sells them. I've been doing it since I was 13. My family just moved to Idaho so we get on the Owyhee River a lot. Every time I'm home my dad and I go fly fishing. It's so fun.
What's your most memorable catch?
I think it was last summer. We were on the Owyhee, it was a really nice brown trout, one of the biggest ones that I've caught, so super fun.
Tell us a little bit about some of the work you've done in Mexico and what that involved.
In high school, my church started going when I was in my freshman year going into my sophomore year and you could sign up and go build houses in Mexico and it was something that I was really interested in doing. My youth group leader was one of the main guys and he talked me into it. It was a really small group the first year and I had such a blast. It was so awesome to be able to provide that for someone and get to know the families that you're building it for. After, I talked it up so much, my sister and my dad came the year after and the group doubled in size and then I did it again the year after. It's been a little bit harder to go now that preseason is in July because that's when we would go but it was one of the most influential times in my life. I learned to be really grateful for what we have and be able to provide something like that for other people.
Having come from Grand Canyon University, what are some of your favorite spots around there?
Scottsdale, definitely old town Scottsdale, they have a lot of historic stuff. When my sister was visiting me, I took her down there. There were a lot of art museums and a lot of history, which I really liked. It also had very western vibes.
You also lived in Simi Valley, California, where should people visit there?
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. College Station has the George Bush Library, we had the Ronald Reagan Library. You're 30 minutes from Malibu, so go to the beach. Then you're also 45 minutes from Los Angeles if you want to go in the city. It wasn't for me, but I'd definitely like to go to Malibu
Besides fly fishing, what should people do in your part of Idaho?
Float the Boise River. My family and I do it every Fourth of July. We go in as a family. My aunts, uncles and cousins have come down in the past and we float the Boise River. It's so popular because it's so hot and they open it up. The water is freezing but it's really fun..