Coach G, Aggie Soccer going for first ever win in Knoxville this evening

Key notes from G Guerrieri interview

• I think we're ahead of expectations for where people thought we would be at this point. We graduated both of our strikers, including an All-American, and we lost Grace Piper to graduation, along with three of our starting defenders. All of that to say, many people think this is one of A&M's best soccer teams. That is a testament to how we play. We are playing great ball, and we hold our destiny in our hands. If we win out, we win the SEC. Tennessee is the only team in the SEC that we have a losing record against, despite how many top teams there are in the conference. We actually have not scored on them in Knoxville in the past, but what better year to break that streak than in 2020?
   
• Our veterans have added a wise voice in the locker room. They are very professional in their demeanor and how they play the game. These new kids basically come in from youth soccer and are not really prepared for a different world and how fast we play, so having those veteran voices and great talents on the field adds a lot to how we play. Jimena Lopez and Macie Kolb are big contributors to this team and have been a big reason we've played so well. They're very important players, and they have really stepped up as upperclassmen.
   
• Barbara Olivieri has been awesome, and she is a lot of fun to work with. She has a great attitude and plays with so much flare on the field. We had to put her on the front line early on due to some injuries, so for the last two weeks as a forward, she's playing out of position, but she's been racking up accolades despite it. She's back in her normal position tonight, and she was a Texas High School player of the year in high school, so we've known for a while just how talented she is. 
   
• We're hoping to have Laney Carroll back this week as well, and she was someone who was being honored at the beginning of the season for how well she was playing. We have three or four freshmen starting tonight, so it will be fun to watch and see how they do.
   
• Tennessee is a funny team. They haven't won on the road, but they're also undefeated at home. One of their best players, Jaida Thomas, also plays basketball for them, and she's a great player. They have a few players who have transferred in that have made them better, they have one of the best facilities in the country, so those things will be big challenges for us. We were here two years ago in the Sweet Sixteen, and they just have had some incredible international players that have beaten us, so we're happy they are gone. They play hard, and I expect them to adjust their entire system to beat us, but we're prepared for it.
   
• For our scheduled game against Auburn, Auburn was the one that decided when they wanted to play the game. They didn't want to play in front of the 12th Man, so they were able to get the SEC to schedule the game during a time when they figured no one would show up. Hopefully, we'll have a lot of people there despite that, because I'm a little irritated that the game is at 3:00 p.m. It's all good, though. We didn't get to choose when it would be rescheduled, but we're hoping for a great crowd for that game despite what Auburn is trying to do in neutralizing the 12th Man.
   
• At Texas A&M, we're extremely lucky, and I say that all the time. Our administration has done a great job of keeping our unit functioning and safe and giving us the resources we need to travel safely, and because it is only an SEC schedule, we've been able to stay in the same charter and be in our own little bubble. I know Florida flew down here on a packed jetliner, so I'm sure they were a little anxious in doing so, but for us, our athletic department has been tremendous and has been very professional in the way they have handled this. Now, all we have to worry about is playing tonight, getting a win, and hopefully being back in town by midnight tonight.