soccerbuzz.com is releasing their college soccer recruiting rankings today. Yesterday they listed their top 50 recruits and top international recruits. A&M has 3 top 25's, 1 top 25-50 and 1 top international.

Check it out! Congrats to Coach G.

Hep! Link! Tried but bombed.

The address is www.soccerbuzz.com and I'm there right now.

They haven't yet posted the class rankings as of 4:44 pm.

National Top 25

Amy Berend MID Highland Village, TX
Melissa Garey MID Gonzales, LA
Ashlee Pistorius FOR Normal, IL

National Top 26-50

Sara Albrecht MID Kingwood, TX

Top International

Julie Spearink GK Loughborough, England

Congratulations to these incoming freshmen.

Soccer Buzz has now posted that the national top 10 class rankings will come out this evening. Additional rankings to follow. A&M should get listed today in the top 10 since we had the most top 50 national and top 20 international recruits.

In reference to my post above, Soccer Buzz listed the top 20 international recruits.

COACH G'S COMMENTS ON THE 2004 SIGNING CLASS: "This is a fantastic class! Each of the players in this signing class are winners, leaders, and outstanding young ladies. They - when combined with the returning players already at Texas A&M - will help to complete one of the deepest and most talented rosters we've seen in Aggieland in years. When you look at the fact that the 11th-ranked team in America is replacing it's lone senior (Kristen Strutz) with a class that includes no less than six NSCAA All-Americans, I think it could strike a collective ‘uh-oh’ from many of our opponents. It should also ignite a lot of excitement from our supporters.

"I am sure that many people out there will classify this year's signing class as among the best in the nation and one of the best we've had in our 11-year history at Texas A&M. The success of this class will of course be judged in the years to come and in the accomplishments our program attains during their careers in Aggieland. At A&M we talk about Building Champions. Our coaching staff can't wait to get this team on the field to start winning more soccer championships."

Ags # 1!!!!!!
ND #2 NC #3

It's good to have this many top quality players, that way we can rotate them in and out without losing pace and there will always be some rested players.

Great news! Congratulations to Coach G and looking forward to seeing the new recruits on campus.

Gig'em

I think every male Aggie is looking forward to seeing these girls on campus

Historically, G has always done the best with what he's had. This is the first year that his recruiting class is well actually great. True, only time will judge how significant and what impact these recruits will have. But, the bar is raised and high expectations are justified. Expect as many as eight of these incoming freshmen to be starters immediately.

Soccer Buzz's Tuesday headline:

"Texas A&M hauls in the top-ranked group of 2004 signees with eleven first-rate recruits."

We know they liked 5 of the recruits because they singled them out as top recruits. From this headline, it sounds like they liked all eleven. Hopefully this class will strengthen the team at every position.

I normally agree with dallas02 and agree that this recruiting class looks exceptional. But I find it hard to believe the coaches will dismantle three-quarters of a team that made it to the Sweet Sixteen. Yes, that team needed tweaking -- particularly the offensive output --but the back defenders were strong all around. Midfield play was good as well, although inconsistent at times. And there is something to be said for experience and leadership. I just don't think you can start 8 freshmen on the field and have consistent, mature decision-making. With KJ in the goal, that means 8 of the 10 starting field players would be replaced.

I think we should all remember that we only lost one player from a team that made it to the sweet 16. We will be unstoppable.

It is way too early to say we are going to be unstoppable. Typically less than half the recruits are able to adjust to the college game and contribute at this level. Coach G. stesses that team chemistry is very important so personality-meshing plays a role.

Also other schools are reloading; at least 4 schools that finished in the top ten last year had top ten recruiting classes this year. It seems t.u. is putting top ten classes together year after year so they should continue to be a strong contender in conference.

[This message has been edited by JADE (edited 5/26/2004 11:26a).]

The team as is will be lucky to make it to the sweet sixteen. Sights are higher and am hopeful that these incoming freshmen can make the difference between an NCAA qualifying team vs a final four participant. A trademark of all Aggie soccer teams is that of over achievement - and if that can hold true - look for a serious run at an NCAA championship in 2005. The talent or potential talent will arrive this August in Aggieland and expectations should be high. Give G two years and then we will see.

Soccer Buzz has just posted their Top 25 recruiting classes. 1. A&M 5. t.u., no other Big 12 nor Texas school mentioned.

[This message has been edited by JADE (edited 5/27/2004 1:05p).]

A&M, tu, and Nebraska are the only Big 12 schools to have had much success recently in recruiting soccer players.

The other schools need to step up their efforts to attract top soccer talent to our conference. We need a stronger conference. We have way too many weak teams.

Unfortunately, many schools have a women’s soccer program just to meet Title IX requirements and do not put much emphasis or interest into their program.

Dr Lou,

There are 11 programs in the Big 12 with women's soccer. 8 of those teams qulified for the 2003 NCAA Tournament. That's the most of any conference in America!

Yes, tu, Nebraska, and A&M are traditionally out in front on a national level. But, last year it was Colorado who won the regular season title and OSU who won the tournament title. KU and A&M were the only two of the eight to advance to the sweet 16.

Only Nebraska and A&M have advanced to the elite 8 (I think both have been there twice).

Now, with the recruiting classes that tu, Nebraska, and A&M have put together, maybe the Big 12 can break a team or 2 into the Final Four.

One thing is for sure, the Big 12 is definately a big time conference in soccer. Just like in other sports, if you win the Big 12 championship, you've really accomplished something!

I can't wait to see the next edition of the Aggies to see how far they can go!

Soccer Buzz magazine posted their top 26-100 recruiting classes. Here are the B12 and Texas schools that are ranked.

27 SMU
28 Nebraska
34 Colorado
52 Missouri
53 Oklahoma State
61 Texas Tech
68 Oklahoma
69 Baylor
96 Iowa State
100 Rice

[This message has been edited by JADE (edited 7/16/2004 1:51p).]

Soccer America released their National Top 10 Classes this week. The Aggies are #1 there too!!!!

Here are some tidbits from the Soccer America article:
___
Texas A&M's recruiting class is Soccer America's choice as No. 1

Big 12 brings in big women's soccer talent for 2004
Texas A&M, with a large, skillful group that Aggies coach G. Guerreri calls the best in school history, sits atop Soccer America's list of the nation's Top 10 college women's soccer recruiting classes.

A&M's No. 1 class features 11 standouts, including five Parade and/or NSCAA Youth All-Americans and four players on Soccer America's Top 25 Recruits list. Included are midfielders Amy Berend, Ashlee Pistorius and Melissa Garey, all with experience with the U.S. under-19 women's national team.

''We brought in a lot of class,'' said Guerreri, who will get ample time to work on team chemistry during a preseason trek to Europe. ''We've had players maybe of the caliber of some of these kids, but we haven't brought in this many at one time.''

North Carolina, Texas, Penn State and Notre Dame also brought in top-flight classes to complete the first five, and Nebraska, Ohio State, Portland, Florida and California complete the Top 10.

Two of the top three classes and three of the top six belong to Big 12 Conference schools.

A number of schools will be without top recruits this fall as several players defer enrollment until after the Nov. 10-27 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship in Thailand. The U.S. and Canadian U-19 national teams, among the favorites for the title, will stage residencies this fall to prepare for the tournament.

The top recruits at North Carolina (Harris), Texas (Stephanie Logterman), Penn State (Sheree Gray), Notre Dame (Kerri Hanks) and Portland (Megan Rapinoe) are among a group of about three dozen players who will defer enrollment or red-shirt for the 2004 season.

None of Texas A&M's recruits are scheduled to miss the fall season, although Berend is in the U.S. U-19 team's current camp in New Jersey.

Soccer America's Top 10 Recruiting Classes for 2004:

1. TEXAS A&M
Big 12 Conference - Coach G. Guerreri

The Aggies pulled in a deep, talented class that features All-Americans Berend, Pistorius, Garey, Sara Albrecht, Jordan Falcusan and Marissa Sarkesian. Throw in England U-19 goalkeeper Julie Spearink, three Regional ODP players and Sereno captain Paige Carmichael, and Guerreri's got an A+ group.

Announced signings: M Sara Albrecht (Kingwood, Texas), M Amy Berend (Highland Village, Texas), M/D Paige Carmichael (Glendale, Ariz.), D Jordan Falcusan (Plymouth, Mich.), M Melissa Garey (Gonzales, La.), M Jessica Green (Katy, Texas), M Allison Martino (Draper, Utah), F/M Ashlee Pistorius (Bloomington, Ill.), F/M Marissa Sarkesian (Canton, Mich.), G Julie Spearink (San Ramon, Calif./Loughborough, England), D Kelly Wilmoth (Allen, Texas).
SA Top 25: Amy Berend (No. 12), Ashlee Pistorius (15), Melissa Garey (20), Paige Carmichael (21).

2. NORTH CAROLINA
3. TEXAS
4. PENN STATE
5. NOTRE DAME
6. NEBRASKA
7. OHIO STATE
8. PORTLAND
9. FLORIDA
10. CALIFORNIA
___

While I really look forward to the 2004 season and seeing the new players, I can't wait to see the 2005 edition, particularly since the National Championship will be held on campus! Home field advantage could be coming at the perfect time!

This is Soccer Buzz's top ten. Nebraska must have had a late addition or two since they were ranked 26th in Soccer Buzz and 6th in Soccer America.

1 Texas A&M
2 Notre Dame
3 North Carolina
4 Penn State
5 Texas
6 Clemson
7 Portland
8 Maryland
9 Ohio State
10 California