Each week, Easton Barnes of 12thMan.com checks in with a newcomer on the Texas A&M soccer team.
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NAOTB: Brie Severns
How old were you when you realized you loved soccer?
I started playing around when I was three or four years old. I think I remember just falling in love with it immediately. It was something I was naturally drawn to. I would kick a lot of things in the house because I didn’t really know how to control my legs when I was younger. My parents noticed that right away and just went with it. My mom played soccer, and my older sister played soccer too, so it just made sense for me to do the same thing as a kid.
If you could relive any moment from your soccer career, what would it be?
My sophomore year at the University of Kansas—this was back when overtime was still a thing—we were playing West Virginia on a Sunday. They were ranked ninth in the nation at the time. I was gaining more confidence with each game, getting more minutes and building up my stats. I was feeling really good.
It was a home game for us, but they scored five minutes in, and we thought, 'Oh, great, this is how it's going to go.' But I was determined, thinking, 'No, this isn’t happening against West Virginia.' We weren't going to let them beat us five minutes into the game. We pushed hard, making attacking plays, and I had a chance to make a wide run. I found one of my teammates in the box with a cutback cross, and she had an amazing finish to tie it up, 1-1, about 12 minutes in.
After that, it was basically a battle of who wanted it more. We went into two overtimes, and with less than a minute left, they had a corner kick. We cleared it, and as they tried to send it back in, the teammate I had assisted made an incredible tackle. We had a 2-v-3 counterattack with about 20 seconds left. She found me wide open across the field, as the other two defenders were focused on the far side.
When I got the ball, my first touch went away from the goal, and I thought, 'Oh no, I'm going to screw this up.' Their defender, Nicole Payne, who’s an amazing player, came over quickly. I was fortunate to play against her and get better because of her. I managed to take a touch back, causing her to keep moving, and then took a shot. It went in with seven seconds left, and we won the game 2-1. It was an unbelievable feeling.
It was a huge win for us, especially since we hadn’t been doing well that season. That week, we defeated two top-25 ranked teams, and it was just an incredible way to end the weekend.
What did you know about Texas A&M before you came here?
Honestly, I didn’t know much. I knew they were in the SEC and that they were pretty decent at soccer. I knew of Shea Groom because she played there, and she was one of my camp coaches when I was younger at Hugh Williams' camps in Kansas City. So I was familiar with her, but I didn’t really know much about her college history or where she went to school. I just knew they were in the SEC and had a good soccer program. That past fall, when I entered the transfer portal, they had a really great season. That was about all I knew.
After growing up in Missouri and going to the University of Kansas not too far from home, was it difficult making the move to Texas?
When I chose the University of Kansas, I committed very early in the process. The recruiting process back then started really early—mine began in December of my freshman year of high school, and I committed in December of my sophomore year. Kansas was everything for me at that time. It was close to home, and my parents could attend almost every single game during club season. I wanted my family to be there, and Kansas had a great program with everything I needed. It was just the perfect time to commit.
But over time, my priorities changed. I began to prioritize being part of a successful team, experiencing a new atmosphere, being challenged, and being coached to get better. The distance from home didn’t bother me as much anymore. Of course, it was tough to leave my family because I had never been this far away from them for this long, but I’m fortunate that my family can travel once or twice a month to see me play. They even came to the Mizzou game.
So, while I do miss my family, when I entered the transfer portal, I didn’t let distance be a factor that would hold me back.Â
What is it like getting to play in front of the 12th Man?
It's crazy—I’ve never seen anything like it at Kansas. It was hard to get fans there because our game field was 15 minutes off campus, and we had a smaller student population. I’ve never experienced anything like the fan base here; it’s insane. Honestly, I’m just speechless—everything here is so fantastic. I love the traditions, and I love the loyalty. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s so cool to be able to play in front of them.
Since coming back from injury, what have the coaches worked with you on as far as personal player development?
I would say I really enjoy working with Coach (Alyssa) Mautz because she has a professional background—she played the game. She played here at A&M and now she coaches others based on her experiences and what works and what doesn’t. I’ve learned a lot from her.
In terms of the film aspect, I’ve been working with Coach (Seth) Taylor for a little while, and I want to work with him more now that I’m playing more. So those would be the two people I work with the most. It feels awesome.
What are some of your off the field interests and hobbies?
With my major, I have to study a lot. I don’t know if that counts as a hobby, but I have to do it. I really enjoy hanging out with friends, watching movies and TV, and napping. I love online shopping, too. If I'm around them, I like spending time with my family as well. Soccer takes up a lot of our time.
After soccer, what are your life plans and goals?
I hope to play professionally. I don’t really care where; I just want the opportunity to do that and play until my body can’t anymore. After that, I would like to go back to school to become a radiologist or an anesthesiologist. Right now, I’m leaning more towards radiology because it requires less school.