Page
eptemberll l
its Council: The
ing will be heldi
2 Zachary, it
e cream social,
nation, call ;
96-4431.
Sports
Page 11
Wednesday • September 11, 1996
se Club: Practice
1-6 p.m. attheZa
ne is welcome
necessary. For
Ireks at 764-856:
•unseling Set
Student Wai
ip-in counseling
available for min
m 1-4:30 p.m.
all. Students
T-some, first-sc
stails call Dr.
1427, ext. 134.
rosse: There wii
a 4-6 p.m. at
For more inform
\&M soccer
«mts first-ever
op 10 ranking
T
Aggies expecting Wrecking Crew revival
ftYWWVWV
Nicki Smith
Soccer Notebook
h e
Texas
A & M
Soccer Team
has extin
guished a
tradition
that lasted
several years
by starting
the season
tern at 69MSH 1 h an 'mpressive 3-0 record.
In recent years, the team had
otbeen able to proceed this far
ito the season without suffer-
ig a loss. With its current
cord, the Aggie squad has
osted its first-ever top 10 rank-
ig, earning a No. 8 spot in
xcer America’s Top 20 poll.
Last week, the Aggies got its
ell-deserved “dream win"
hen they defeated the
niversity of Alabama 2-1 in
Ivertime. Not only did the
ggies proudly give the
rimsonfide its first loss of the
iason, but the team cleared its
ame following a year of remi-
isdng about the fateful day
labama upset A&M last year,
nding the Aggies’ three-year
ome winning streak.
s Ministry: The®
jpper at 6 p.m.i
ian Church beW
For details callF
.221.
lursday
Rush: There ^
>m 7-8 p.m. in
nave fun and
or details call I
1-0190.
nerican Stuii
There will be a|
at 8:30 p.m. in
be discussing pi
)w-wow. For deti
at 2 60-1992
9-2726.
s
sts non-profit s
iculty events
ems should bes
;er than three
of the desired ii
rtion deadl
lot events and*
i What's UpiJi
jstions, pleased
m at 845
By Tom Day
The Battalion
Nearly three weeks ago, the
Texas A&M Football Team took to
the national spotlight during its
NCAA season-opening matchup
with Brigham Young University
in the Pigskin Classic.
But after a disappointing loss
that day, and two ensuing bye
weeks, the Aggies have basically
been swept under the rug. A&M
is on the borderline of dropping
out of the rankings with a No. 25
showing in this week’s
Associated Press poll as most
teams have played two games.
A&M Head Coach R.C.
Slocum said the team is looking
forward to playing Southwest
Louisiana University on Saturday
and getting back into a routine of
playing on a weekly basis.
“It’s a grind to practice for
three weeks without playing a
game,” Slocum said. “We start
ed out first, but we’re behind a
lot of teams right now. [The USL
game] is really the opener of our
regular season. We need to play
and get into a rhythm.”
A&M may have dropped out
of sight recently, but not out of
mind. The issue that is still sur
rounding the team is how it will
correct the drastic defensive
problems it experienced at BYU.
The Aggies surrendered 536
passing yards
and six touch
downs to the
Cougars in their
Aug. 24 matchup.
A&M
Defensive
Coordinator Phil
Bennett said nei
ther he nor the
defensive players
have been able to
get the team’s
nightmare per
formance in
Provo off their
minds.
“[The secondary]
was the immedi
ate problem, but
it was compounded
by the fact we
didn't play better
up front.”
R.C. Slocum
A&M head coach
away. There aren’t many hours
during the day that I don’t think
about what I could have done to
put us in a different situation to
win that game. But at the same
time, it is also a great motivator
to be anxious to play again.”
Since the BYU fiasco, the team
has had plenty of
time to iron
things out. But
the most impor
tant thing it has
established is that
the young and
inexperienced
Aggie secondary
wasn’t completely
at fault in Provo.
“It would be
unfair to put
everything on
the secondary,”
Slocum said. “It
was the immediate
“It’s a strange situation to start
in July, play your first game, and
then almost have a month off,”
Bennett said. “Living with that
situation since BYU has been like
a gut wound — it just won’t go
problem, but it was compound
ed by the fact that we didn’t
play better up front. There were
two or three plays in particular
that weren’t ability errors, but
communication errors that cost
us touchdowns.”
, Bennett said the defense has
spent the last three weeks figur
ing out what went wrong in Utah.
“We had a problem at BYU
with communications,” Bennett
said. “We had situations where
some kids were playing one
coverage and some were play
ing another, which basically lost
the game for us. [Solving] that
starts with discipline in the
huddle and making sure we’re
all on the same page.”
This weekend, the A&M sec
ondary will have a different
look when sophomore corner-
back Shun Horn starts in place
of senior Andre Williams. It
was Williams who was beaten
on the game-winning touch
down pass reception to BYU
wide receiver K.O. Kealaluhi in
the Pigskin Classic.
Despite his decision to start
Horn Saturday, Bennett said he
still respects the ability of
Williams and will not hesitate to
insert him into the game.
See Football, Page 14
Stew Milne, The Battalion
Linebacker Dat Nguyen tackles BYU run
ning back Mark Atuaia on Aug. 24.
Rowe Joins Attack
Not only are the Aggies shining
. jsateam, but individual accom-
a Batta ion abound as well.
Junior midfielder Diana
lowe scored two goals and
arned her first career game-
vinning goal and multiple-goal
natch against Vanderbilt
ition deadlines * j^yg^fy j ast weekend, help-
ng the Aggies post a Central
egion sweep.
Currently, Rowe is second on
the team in goals scored behind
junior forward Bryn Blalack,
wd was regarded by her team-
nates and coaches as the most
mpressive and improved play
er of the week.
Rowe recently made the
aove from defensive to central
nidfield in late July when
enior starter Jamie Csizmadia
See Smith, Page 13
nt
3 are in the
ireers
Motivational Player
Senior forward Yvette Okler plays for more than individual glory
Stew Milne, The Battalion
Senior forward Yvette Okler does not care about
individual awards — she just wants to help the team.
By Jeremy Furtick
The Battalion
Hen glancing at a list of the
Texas A&M Soccer Team’s all-
time statistics leaders, current
Aggie forward Yvette Okler’s numbers
clearly stand out.
As a four-year starter for the Aggies,
Okler ranks first on A&M’s all-time list in
assists with 27, and third in both goals
(22) and total points (71).
But Okler’s contributions to the team
cannot be measured solely on statistics.
The senior gives the Aggies a mental and
emotional edge that goes unnoticed by
most spectators.
Okler can often be seen on the field
or sideline giving encouraging words to
a dejected teammate or congratulating
another after a good play.
“I just tell them the truth, ‘Don’t get
down on yourself; you made a mistake,
we all do,”’ Okler said. “We’re all great
friends, and can be totally honest with
each other.”
It is actions like these that have
established Okler as a leader both on
and off the field for the eighth-
ranked Aggies.
A very modest and soft-spoken per
son, Okler does not give herself much
credit, except to say that her field
awareness is a key to her success and an
asset to the team.
“Before I even get the ball some
times, I’ll see something opening up,”
Okler said. “The second I get a pass, I
already have a plan of what I want to
do with the ball.”
A&M Head Coach G. Guerrieri said
Okler’s playing style and A&M’s offen
sive game plan compliment each
other well.
"Our offense is an attacking, ball-
control system,” Guerrieri said. "Yvette
is one of our most important compo
nents because her individual skills fit
perfectly into our scheme.” Okler said
her individual success cannot rival the
team’s. Last year, the Aggies quieted
many critics by advancing to the second
round of the NCAA Tournament.
Okler said that success has carried
over to the 1996 squad.
“We are starting at a higher level of
play this year,” she said. “Our goal is
still the same — win the conference
championship — but our expecta
tions of how we play are higher.”
Junior midfielder Jessica Mouske said
Okler is always highly motivated and
that the entire team sets her work ethic
as the standard to follow.
But Okler said her work ethic is no
different than any of her teammates.
“Everyone on this team hustles,” Okler
said. “ [Coach Guerrieri] expects us to set
an example for the freshmen, so I feel like
See Okler, Page 14
to enjoy LubyQs.
HOMESTYLE COOKING, JUST
FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS
FROM THE KITCHEN OF Lvtoqf^
VISIT THE NEW
LUBY’S CAFETERIA
POST OAK MALL
1500 HARVEY ROAD
Luby^s
CAFETERIA
GootL-food-jm* good ■peopfe®
NOW 2 LOCATIONS IN THE BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION AREA.
‘96 Diamondback
Outlook
reg. 249.95 on Sale 189.95
r>«n 17 Te o. a ! Ave - SAVE ON U-LOCKS * HELMETS* MORE
College Station, Tx.
696-6551 OPEN 9 AM -7 PM M-SAT. 12-5 SUN.
REE!
IHITIAL VISIT
INCLUDES:
CONSULTATION
•DOCTOR
OMMENTS
REE INITIAL
EXAM
» 2 X-RAYS
INDICATED)
(VALUE UP TO $145)
FICE ACCEPTS:
ajor Medical • Auto
cidents • Workers
ipensation • Sports
lies • Payment Plans •
y Discounts • Police &
iremen Discounts
UNIVERSITY CHIROPRACTIC
DR. SCOTT B. CHORNY
MON, TUES, WED, FRI:9T2,3-6
THURS: 3-6 SAT: 9-12 S r\ ^ A
413 S. Texas Ave. . A,o0**l234'