POSITION PREVIEW: Defenders
Thomas Dick, Texas A&M Athletics Communications
This is Part Two of 12thMan.com's four-part series previewing the 2024 Aggie soccer season.
“Defenders Assemble”
All four starters from Texas A&M’s back line return in what figures to be a major strength for the Maroon & White.
Adysen Armenta (22), Carolyn Calzada (19), Macy Matula (21) and Margo Matula (18) accounted for 80 of the Aggies’ 88 starts on defense a year ago as Texas A&M posted an admirable 1.08 goals against average and 10 shutouts.
As freshmen last year, Margo Matula and Armenta were two of seven players to appear in all 22 matches for Texas A&M. Macy and Margo Matula ranked first and second on the Aggies in minutes played, respectively, while Armenta ranked fourth.
The corps is bolstered by a trio of returners. Olivia Fetzer is a talented reserve who has racked up important minutes for the Maroon & White. Bella James was one of the Aggies’ most highly touted players in last year’s freshman class but missed the season due to injury. Ella Goodwin saw limited action last year as a freshman, but with continued strides made in workouts she could become a contributor on the backline.
Expected to contribute more on the other end in 2024 with Armenta and Macy Matula running up and down the touch lines and Calzada as a target on set pieces, the returning defense accounted for just one goal and three assists last year.
Coach G's Take -
“What a difference a year makes. Last year it was one of the things we were a little concerned about heading into the season just because of the youth. We had two freshmen, a sophomore and a junior on the backline. But they got seasoned as the year went on and by the end they were so difficult to get behind because of how well they played together.
"They are a year older with great experience under their belt. They have the ability to be one of the best defenses in the country. Add to that the return of Bella (James) who was one of the most highly regarded recruits from last year and the sky is the limit for this group.”
ADYSEN ARMENTA
Armenta was the only Aggie to start all 22 games last season. She earned SEC All-Freshman Team recognition as she served as a left back. The Spring, Texas, native played 1,783 minutes. Despite not registering any points, Armenta was active on the offensive end with 11 shots, including three shots-on-goal, a number she figures to increase as a sophomore.
Coach G's Take -
“As a converted attacking midfielder and forward, Adysen has an outstanding engine. She puts in amazing distances and mileage getting up and down the sideline both defensively and in the attack. She is someone who grew and grew throughout last year. I think she will be one of our fan favorites in the way she patrols that touchline.”
CAROLYN CALZADA
Serving as a co-captain this year, Calzada has been a mainstay at center back since her arrival in Aggieland. She earned SEC All-Freshman Team in 2022 and was named as one of the top 100 freshmen (No. 61) in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer following a season in which she started 17 matches. She played 90-plus minutes in 16 of the contests.
Last year Calzada started 19 matches for the Aggies and continued to collect accolades. She earned United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Team, All-SEC First Team and SEC All-Tournament Team.
Coach G's Take -
“Ever since she stepped on the field, she’s been one of our very best defenders. Now she’s stepped into a role as captain and you see she has immense respect from all of her teammates. Her on-field presence is unmatched. She’s a great athlete and a game changer as far as what she does for us on the back line.”
OLIVIA FETZER
The Buena Vista, California, product showed vast improvement in her junior campaign and it showed up with more minutes on the pitch. She appeared in five matches for a total of 139 minutes, more than doubling the totals for her first two seasons. Fetzer also recorded her first career point with an assist against Texas Southern in a match in which she played a career-high 69 minutes.
Coach G's Take -
“People haven’t seen Liv as much on the field, but every time she steps on the pitch, she fits right in with everything. She’s great on the ball. She’s a very good individual defender, but she’s very skillful and very technical. Off the field she’s a brilliant teammate and someone that has been incredibly supportive of everyone. She is absolutely loved by everyone on the team.”
ELLA GOODWIN
Goodwin played in a pair of matches last season as a freshman, both shutouts. The A&M Consolidated High School graduate played the entire second half of the Aggies win against Texas Southern. Her solid work in spring training and matches has built confidence that can lead to more playing time as a sophomore.
Coach G's Take -
“Ella is a great local talent who came in as a freshman and showed so much improvement. I’m sure it was scary for her having grown up here in College Station and putting on that uniform to play alongside these players she’s seen her whole life. She’s held her own and done a great job. She was one of our most improved players and she had a great spring making real strides.”
BELLA JAMES
James is back in the fold after missing her freshman campaign due to injury. Highly touted upon her arrival in Aggieland, she was expected to have a huge impact in her rookie campaign. As a prep standout, James led Wakeland High School to the Texas Class 5A state title in 2022 and state runner-up finish in 2021, earning UIL Class 5A State Championship All-Tournament Team recognition both years. She was also a Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 5A All-Texas and United Soccer Coaches Girls High School All-Winter Region performer in 2022. On the club circuit playing for FC Dallas, she led the squad to the ECNL Finals in 2022, finishing third in the nation. She was named ECNL U17 All-American and ECNL Texas Conference U17 Player of the Year for her efforts.
Coach G's Take -
“Bella is one of the best ball winners and just true pure defenders we’ve had in a long time. She’s great in the air and reads the game really well. She is very sophisticated in the way she sees the game. She’s a good leader even now as a redshirt freshman. Bella made a huge impact on the program last year without even being on the field. She comes from a soccer family with her dad being a lifer in the game and one of the mainstays in the FC Dallas Academy program.”
MACY MATULA
The Aggies’ leader in minutes played last season, she went the distance in 16 contests as an outside back. Matula has evolved into one of the SEC’s best 1-v-1 defenders and has caught opponents off guard with her gazelle-like speed. Along with being a strong defender, she has shown the ability to contribute on the offensive end with 10 career points on three goals and four assists. Last season, Matula missed just one game, starting the other 21 matches. Her sophomore campaign in 2022 she played in 21 contests, including eight starts, registering two goals and two assists.
Coach G's Take -
“Macy has been our most improved player the last two years. She came in as someone we knew could be good and she has exceeded all expectations. She’s fast and has a great left foot. But most importantly she has been almost impossible for opponents to beat 1-on-1. She’s tenacious. Macy is the total package – academically she is one of the best in the SEC and in the club house she is one of the best teammates.”
MARGO MATULA
After a brief spell at midfield to start the season, Matula was shifted to center back for the last 19 matches and blossomed into an SEC All-Freshman performer. The Maroon & White opened the season with a 2.00 goals against average in the first three games, but with Matula moved to the interior of the back line the Aggies’ GAA dropped to 0.94 for the remainder of the season. She ranked second on the team in minutes played with 1,810 and registered one assist on the year.
Coach G's Take -
“Margo showed how good she is last season as an SEC All-Freshman performer. We’ve known for years and years she was going to be a great player and she has exceeded expectations. She could play midfield as well as she plays on the back line. She’s a great ball winner but she is also great at initiating our attack.”
