le wellg headed uthwest( A team or was led >ack Kitij nericaes; y crowd (, : hum, the s' nation; ms. ts glory t; s nation; winnir, ;ies Texas, h title unti n 1994, isonraii United back Jot; nan Tropj 'oof had d ie team* louncedt , A&M» )ee3-0t(J )llapse:r.| :tations.l Nfo. 9 ini; irly7fls«i ie teams J aid post in the 16 j lisappoira gh Aggie 6 tgs, ihenilhl ;d teamsi lone had ampionslj r season;! 3 in thepf to Notre | Bowl anil ei _ manlte andMei ast 1 team® Waft /ou,op?’ 1’t comf timefot lefflo® this® ; LSU coached | rbilth J ’s team With* iave te imbin* s like? ■stack. /as & t rthis; idate- iat ok ^ thocgd jm he- evilM jw nif:' h sch? linete; : hool : ; I seofh right se hi 1 ; - unit)’ | lot 5/ Wednesday • August 30, 1995 Sports Page 13 • The Battalion Guerrieri sees ’95 squad as best yet IqA&M's head coach said the Aggies' depth will be a major strength. By Philip Leone The Battalion If you spend five minutes dis cussing Texas A&M soccer with Head Coach G. Guerrieri, the man’s enthusiasm about his team’s upcoming season will knock you over. With 18 letter winners and 10 starters returning from last year’s explosive 15-2-2 squad, there is no reason why Guerrieri should be anything but enthusiastic. This season, the team and Guer- rieri’s goal to win the Southwest Conference title and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament are defi nitely within reach. “We have a much, much stronger team all the way around,” said Guerrieri. “At this point, I think we’re a better squad going into the season than we were at the end of last season. We’re real solid at every position.” Last year, the Aggies competed in the South region that included nine-time defending NCAA cham pion North Carolina and national powerhouses Duke and North Car- olina-Greensboro. Five teams from this region received bids when tournament time rolled around, but the sixth-ranked Aggies were left home in College Station despite only two season losses. Koop Continued from Page 11 second straight year, the NCAA did not invite A&M to the championship tournament. “As far as we got last year, and to not make it to the NCAA’s, has really motivated us to try so much harder this year,” Koop said. “We realize we are go ing to have to prove ourselves all over again. It’s carried over to this year in that we know what it takes to get the job accom plished.” Koop accomplished her job last year by scoring 10 goals and “Failing to make the tourna ment last year is something that we can use as motivation —- some thing that will drive us forward,” said Guerrieri. “We can draw on that experience to help us take on and overcome the challenges and the adversity that we’ll face throughout this season.” However, this fall, the Aggies will compete , ill the Central Region, and have better postseason oppor tunities since the country has been divided into six regions instead of the customary four. Automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament will go to the top two teams from each of these divisions, while eight teams will receive at-large bids to round out the 24-team field. The Aggie offensive attack will be led by lightening-quick for wards, Bryn Blalack and Kristin Koop, who were the leading scorers in ‘94 with 11 and 10 goals respec tively. Blalack, a sophomore, had a tremendous season as a freshman, despite a knee injury early in the season, and is described by Guerri eri as “a tough girl who is a great one-on-one player.” Koop, a junior who made the team as a walk-on and earned a full scholarship, will serve as team captain for the 1994 season. Junior Yvette Okler, is also a seasoned player and will be another scoring threat at the forward position. Other returning starters include junior midfielder, Jamie Csizma- dia, whom Coach Guerrieri sees as setting up five others in addition to being named the Aggies' Of fensive MVP. She enters this season as A&M’s career leader in goals (17) and points scored (50) and is thj r( j all-time in assists with 16. “I liked to say that I am where I left off last year,” Koop said. “I still need to work a little on my right foot. It’ll take a few games to get me back to where I was.” Where Koop was, and is ex pected to be this year, is the most dangerous offensive threat in the Central Region. “In tight situations, I can al ways count on Kristen,” Guerri eri said. “She’s a dagger in the heart of all our opponents.” a key to the team’s success because of her playmaking skills in setting up Blalack, Koop, and Okler. Junior goal keeper and two year letterman. Sunny McConnell, will be an experienced per former in the goal box. With key front line players coming back, the Aggies should compete with the Southern Methodist Lady Mustangs for the SWC crown. Coach Guerrieri believes conference play will be beneficial for the Texas A&M soccer program. “We look to take on challenges, and we saw conference affiliation as a challenge and something we could shoot for. We want to win anything we can get our hands on, and that’s why Texas A&M was one of the schools ■ leading the push for conference play before we move A&M Head Soccer C oach into the Big 12.” pointers to two of his players during practice. ANGEL NAILS Professional Nails Care For Men And Women (409) 704*9582 Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. "" I Sun.-By Appointment only Everyday Special Full Set $25.00 Refills $13.00 w/coujDon expires: 9/30/9S 2406 Texas Ave., Suite D College Station, TX 77840 (In the Kroger Shopping Center, next to OLD COUNTRY BUFFED Tim Moog, The Battai.ion G. Guerrieri gives Blalack Continued from Page 11 position, but at the same time I was nervous about it because of my skills,” Blalack said. “It’s a totally different mental perspective.” Obviously not a believer in the “sophomore jinx” that often plagues athletes, Blalack is look ing forward to another strong sea son as a forward. “I’ve worked hard this sum mer and put in more work than I ever have,” she said, “I’ve con centrated on a lot of my weak nesses.” Although the Aggies boasted a 15-2-2 record and finished sixth in the South Region last season, Blalack feels that this year’s team will be better. “This year, we’ve upped our ante,” she said. “We have a much more difficult schedule this year, but I think we should do really well.” Blalack said her personal goals include performing her best so that the team will do well. “I just want to play at my best every game and hope we can all play well and get a shot at the play offs,” she said. With another season like 1994, the SWC Championship could be a reality for Blalack and her team mates. MSC OPAS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW MEMBERS Applications may be picked up in the Student Programs Office 2nd Floor MSC, Room 223 beginning August 28, 1995 Applications are due Monday, September 4 by 5:00 p.m. Interviews will be September 5 Orientation Meeting for all Potential Applicants: September 3rd, 7:00 p.m., 501 Rudder Tower QUESTIONS? PLEASE CALL THE OPAS OFFICE 845-1661 CRYSTAL CLEAR SOUND PRESENTS IN>ST0RE APPEARANCE TODAY, WEDNESDAY at 3:00pnt! COME WATCH JACK INGRAM PERFORM A FREE SHORT SET TODAY AT 3:00. AJEmEKWATUDS, GET TTTlvr TO AXJTOGFLATTi HIS SEUET-TITLED -AJNGD "LONESOME QUESTIONS " CD’s ON RHYTHMIC RECORDS ALSO, BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR HIS NEW " LIVE" CD DUE AT MAROONED OCTOBER 3rd. QgQffiNeSQQH FROM IWSTAlCIEARMUNE THIS F'RJDTVY! PtEW AUBLJMI THE FIRST FULL LENGTH FROM. 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