Texas A&M-Commerce Soccer Preview

all right we're here with Coach Ashley Gordon and Kristen Schultz from Texas A&M Commerce previewing the upcoming season coach first question for you just describe the excitement among this team to start this new season tomorrow yeah I think the players are excited to be back on campus and be back in Commerce and certainly be back on the field haven't played a game uh other than our exhibition match it it's been four months so it's been a while um but I think excited to to get back and get back at it really Kristen how fun has it been to get back on the field with your teammates I mean there's no place I'd rather be um I think it's cool to see all the sacrifices that were made over the summer and coming back and seeing all the pieces being put together so great group of girls and I'm it's just so fun I can't wait for the season to start coach you had one in Squad scrimmage and then a scrimmage against Little Rock before you play against or Robert what have you seen from the team throughout this preseason I think the players are are hungry to to grow and to to be better uh you know they push each other on the field you can see that ultra competitive you know we're we always play with a chip on our shoulder we have to continue to to do that and um you know so I mean really you know hungry to get better hungry for growth hungry to be able to compete and I think you know sets the stage of of future you know championships Kristen what improvements have you seen amongst both yourselves and your teammates so far this PR Seas um I think mostly it's just been our mentality I think we have a lot of physical Talent we have fast girls strong girls fit girls but um I think after our showing in the conference tournament last season we don't want that to happen again so our mentality has definitely changed and we've become more mentally tough and we won't stop when we're tired we'll stop when we're done so coach what is something that excites you about this team oh it's twofold like I said I think it you know Chris mentioned it our our mentality that's that's a fabric you know within our within our team we have to we have to come out and compete um you know but at the same time we have a lot of creative personality so you know with that being said uh not just stopping one player you've got a lot of players within the team that you have to be able to to deal with and so uh we you know can create a lot of opportunities and um I think when we're all on the same page we're we're a difficult team to defend um but you know at the same time like I said you got to you got to come out and got to be able to compete Kristen you kind of touched on your last qu answer but what are some of the goals you have for yourself as well as for the team well my goals um are connected to the team goals and I think ultimately we all want to ring at the end of the season we want to win the conference and then win the tournament as well um and if individual accolades come with that that's great but I think overall we just we want to ring at the end coach there's a lot of new coaches in the conference new members despite all that you were still picked to finish second where you finished last year what does that just say about the respect the program has built around the league even for the newcomers yeah and I mean I I think it's great I think it's great recognition um in regards to preseason polls um but you know at the same time that's history you know certainly and with all the with all the players that received accolades um shows a respect for them but it you know again that was last year in in in history and so you know moving forward it's a it's a new season it's a new season for for everyone and so you know to to repeat that we all have to be all you know moving in the same direction obviously something that will help with that is seven all preseason All Conference players that led the league uh how special is it to have that much talent returning on this team oh great I mean it's a lot of experience and you know and I'm sitting next to a player who very easily could be on that list um you know but it for us we only have three new faces within the team so you have a lot of experience that have that have played a lot of minutes over the past two years um and so with that being said um you know we again we have to be moving in the same direction and and competing at the highest level and uh zoned in and and focused on one thing really and Kristen you got a lot of minutes playing with these with everybody last year as a freshman how special is it for you to have seven of your teammates be considered best at their position in the conference yeah um it makes me really proud honestly and it's an honor to play next to them the South L is full of amazing players and I think that's why it's so attractive for players to want to come play in the conference um but my girls know that our hearts be together and we each have each other's backs and none of it would be possible without the um players on the side or starting or not um but it is it is an honor to play next to such great talent and and I'd even I'd even add to that you know it's great that we've had two players that had year ending injuries last year that have that have rejoined the team and and uh are back on the pitch and and I think that's I think that's great um but you know we're we're excited to work together and we're excited to go through our non-conference schedule and to prepare as best as we can for conference play and then last one for you coach just describe Kristen how important has she been to the team since she came along last year I've known Chris for many many years I think since she was probably 13 and uh I've watched her grow as a player as a club player and then obviously you know now a product from FC Dallas playing Collegiate you know division one soccer in the Southland Conference and and a huge impactful player on and off the field for us um you know Chris is a sophomore from the moment that she got here as a as a freshman she she has a voice voice players respect her um and you know she's she's fantastic I am honored and feel blessed that I have a player like Chris that's playing for me I you know I wish I could um replicate like 30 of Chris's but but anyway so super excited for her and I'm excited about the future and Kristen last one for you take us inside the locker room right before you take the field against or Roberts what is the one song that everyone gets hyped to oh my gosh I couldn't even name one we just have a speaker in the lock room that people pitch in songs and some are dancing around some are kind of zoned in but I think we all just have fun together we just what is your go-to for yourself me um my my faith is very important to me so I just put on My Worship playlist um good or bad all glory goes to him so I've uh I used to pray to be in the position I am now so just uh play for play for him and give back in great coach Kristen thank you so much for joining us good luck this thank you thank you