News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Texas A&M Aggies were selected No. 25 in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Preseason Rankings, the organization announced Wednesday.
The Aggies have been ranked in 25 of the 29 preseason top 25 polls released by United Soccer Coaches since 1996. Texas A&M and Florida (23) are the only two SEC schools to be ranked in the top 25 in the poll at least 20 times. The pair stands far ahead of the next three teams on the list – South Carolina (13), Texas (11) and Tennessee (10).
Texas A&M is one of seven SEC teams starting the season on the coaches poll. The Aggies have four top 25 teams on the schedule for 2024. Florida State starts the season ranked No. 1 followed by Stanford, BYU, Penn State and Clemson.
The Maroon & White welcome back 10 starters led by All-SEC standouts Carolyn Calzada and Mia Pante. The roster also includes nine players which have earned conference all-freshman team status headlined 2023 SEC honorees Adysen Armenta and Margo Matula. Other stars return up and down the pitch including defender Macy Matula, midfielders Sydney Becerra and Taylor Pounds and forward Jazmine Wilkinson, A&M’s leading goal scorer in 2023.
The Aggies travel to SMU for a 7 p.m. exhibition match Thursday. The Maroon & White open the regular-season Thursday, Aug. 15 at Lamar and host Denver for the season home opener Wednesday, Aug. 21.