The 500 Club

Texas A&M fans have long since known they have one of the country’s premier women’s soccer programs living and playing in their very own backyard.

From the moment the Aggies kicked off the program in the fall of 1993, they have been no stranger to success after success, milestone after milestone. A quick glance around the sideline boards at Ellis Field at all the championships and all the postseason excellence will show you that.

Eighteen conference titles. 28 NCAA tournament appearances. 34 All-Americans. The list goes on.

But perhaps, of all the moments in program history, the most historic occurred last Thursday evening under the lights on the campus of the University of Missouri. When the final whistle blew, Texas A&M had opened SEC play with a 1-0 victory over the host Tigers.

But it wasn’t just any old victory. It put the program in an elite club.

500 wins.

A program that has built an incredible resume can now brag that it is the only one in Texas, and the only one in the SEC, to reach the 500-win plateau.

Rarefied air indeed.

Winningest Programs in Texas, by victories (as of 9/23/24)

“It's a huge milestone,” said head coach G Guerrieri, who’s been at the helm for every one of them. “To be the first program in the state of Texas--and the first in the SEC--to reach that milestone, and just the 13th across the country, is remarkable. Obviously, a lot of great players, great staff and great coaches have gone into (accumulating) those 500 wins here at Texas A&M.”

Following the win at Missouri the well wishes didn’t die down for quite some time—and even included a shout out from football coach Mike Elko as he opened his weekly press conference the following Monday. That speaks to the impact this program has had on the many who’ve touched it, both inside and out.

“We lot got a lot of calls, texts and emails from former players, former staff members, and a lot of fans,” Guerrieri added. “To see what it's meant to them to be a part of this program and all the championships, to see all the people that have been influenced by the women in this program…that’s been pretty neat for us.”

Among Texas schools only SMU (467), which has played seven more years of soccer than A&M, is anywhere close to the Aggies on the victory chart. In fact, other than the Aggies and Mustangs just one other school in the Lone Star State—North Texas (399)—has even totaled 350 wins.

It’s the same story at the conference level. With the exception of Arkansas and Vanderbilt (whose programs are just a bit less than a decade older than A&M’s), most every team in the SEC was founded in the mid ‘90s during the rapid growth era of the sport. 

Despite that only Florida (446) joins the Aggies with at least 400 program wins.

That’s how dominant the Maroon & White have been on the pitch.

SEC's Winningest Programs, by victories (as of 9/23/24)

By reaching the 500-win milestone, Texas A&M has further cemented itself as one of the nation’s college soccer elite.  Among programs of a similar age, only three--Penn State, Notre Dame and UCLA--have amassed more victories than the Aggies.

The moment was also an opportunity for some personal reflection for Guerrieri, who was hired by then Athletic Director John David Crow to start the program in the early ‘90s.

"For myself, to be a part of all 500...it means a lot to me personally, but also to my family,” Guerrieri said. “You know, the only Aggie who's really been a part of all of them would be my wife Terri, who's been with me the whole way. And if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here. So a big shout out to, Terri Guerrieri, Class of '87, who I think was the whole reason I was hired at Texas A&M--Aggies taking care of Aggies--and giving me the opportunity to be here and be hired by John David Crow all those years ago."