News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M soccer team hosts the Rice Owls for an exhibition match Saturday at 7 p.m. on Ellis Field.
Admission to the match is free. For the exhibition match only, concessions will not be available, so fans are invited to bring in their own food and beverages. Complimentary bottled water will be available while supplies last.
The Maroon & White welcome back eight 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.
Newcomers that will take the pitch include three transfers. Forward Allison Lowrey earned All-Big Ten Third Team in 2022 and 2023 All-WAC midfielder Leah Pirro. They are joined by Kennedy Clark who started 22 matches for Xavier last season, notching 12 points on three goals and six assists. Lowrey, who logged 57 points with 21 goals and 15 assists in 80 career games at Rutgers, accounted for six goals and four assists in 2023. Pirro ranked ninth in the nation in assists last year with 13 to go with two goals in her 23 matches.
The Owls struggled through an uncharacteristic 3-13-2 campaign last year. Rice returns two of its three top scorers from last season with Natalie Gorji and Kallie McKinney accounting for eight points apiece. The team will rely heavily on transfers, including former Rhode Island starting goalkeeper Faith Hutchins, along with field players Piper Biziorek (Charlotte), Leah Chancey (SMU), Kat Lazor (Houston Christian) and Taylor Rish (Georgia) who averaged 11 starts last season.
The match is the first of two exhibition contests for Texas A&M. The Aggies travel to SMU for a 7 p.m. match Friday, Aug. 9. The Maroon & White open the regular-season Thursday, Aug. 15 at Lamar and host Denver for the season home opener Wednesday, Aug. 21.