*** The Coach G Era ***

1,230 Views | 16 Replies | Last: 16 hrs ago by Here4goodSoccer
TRM
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AG
Let's go back down the memory lane and post some of your favorite moments from the Coach G era - stories, pictures, or videos.

I still get a kick out of that celebration from Big 12 Championship in 2011.

vwbug
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2017 team was amazing. Injuries hurt them, or they would have been college cup bound.
EclipseAg
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AG
I don't follow A&M soccer much any more, but I have a lot of fond memories. My daughter's team went to Coach G's camp three years in a row back in the day and loved it (despite the heat) and all of them loved the players and the atmosphere.

And we went to many games as a family -- especially the annual Fish Camp game and matches against Rice in Houston.

I gather lots of folks were ready for him to leave but to me, it's a sad day. Time marches on.
CDub06
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AG
I was showing my kid some of the old pictures I have of us as students at the soccer stadium making signs (the Petricelli Tantrum Tracker for example) and telling her about some of the old traditions and songs we'd sing.

I pulled down a few pictures to share on the group chat. I expected to share them on a thread like this as well.


This was an era. Note the old Kyle Field (and Softball Stadium) in the background. Homemade flags, homemade scarves, no confetti (!!). But at least the percussion section had upgraded from buckets to drums.
(Shoutout to our OG soccer photog RandomAg)



And then, of course, the pinnacle of the Aggie Soccer experience was the 2-1 win over Penn State to send us to the College Cup. What an incredible night and what an incredible team. I remember Shea and crew coming into the stands to celebrate that one.

Those seniors had a very special bond with the fans. I've not seen anything like it. That was a special time. In comparing that environment to that of other schools, I remember thinking "how could a recruit visit this place and not sign immediately?"
aggiedrjdub
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AG
Gig'em Aggies! c/o '98 W H O O P!
HiddenAg2
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Posted this on the other thread too, but since we're sharing out top moments under G, here are mine:

Some highlights for me:
  • The 2006 and 2007 teams (which I argue were the best in the G era with their dominant possession style soccer) led by Ashlee Pistorious and company, who won 4 straight Big 12 titles. The 2007 team should have won the national title because we hosted the College Cup that year, had a favorable draw and then lost to Texas in a rain soaked second round disaster, which undoubtedly was the worst loss of the G era.
  • The surprising Elite 8 appearance by the 2008 squad in a rebuilding year led by freshman Beth West.
  • The brash young 2011 squad that upset UNC in Chapel Hill after getting thrashed by Duke in the previous game.
  • Obviously the magical 2014 season when those aforementioned freshmen were seniors and reached the College Cup led by Kelly Monogue and Shea Groom. Also, the Elite 8 game against Penn State at Ellis Field was a special night for those who had been following the program for many years. That group won back-to-back SEC titles as well.
  • The 2017 squad was loaded with talent, led by Haley Pounds (my all-time favorite player), Ally Watt, Jimena Lopez, and Mikaela Harvey. They were upset in the NCAA 2nd round after Pounds was injured late in the season (otherwise I really believe they would have reached the College Cup), but that was a really fun team to follow.
  • The pandemic lengthened 2020 season which ended in the Spring and won G's last conference title. Led by Barbara Olivieri, Laney Carroll, and Lauren Geczik, the team won a thrilling Sweet 16 game against Ok State in PKs, and then pushed UNC to the limit in the Elite 8.
frankie00
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TRM said:

Let's go back down the memory lane and post some of your favorite moments from the Coach G era - stories, pictures, or videos.

I still get a kick out of that celebration from Big 12 Championship in 2011.



I remember that match and how exciting it was.

On the pic of the video I thought, "that's Shea Groom!". I could not remember when her first year was and 2011 was it. I checked the roster back then and so many of those names brought back a lot of memories.

Thanks for posting !!
missinAggieland
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AG
Aggie soccer started while I was still a student. I have so many favorite memories about the game, but my absolute favorite memories are of my girls attending Aggie soccer camp.

G and the other coaches, as well as all of the players were so good with the girls.
jt2hunt
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AG
Two favorite players that i recall most:
Pistorius and Harvey!
BQ_90
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AG
jt2hunt said:

Two favorite players that i recall most:
Pistorius and Harvey!

My favorite memory of Harvey was getting yellow or maybe second yellow for telling a ref he didn't know what the **** he was doing. It might have been you're ****ing clueless either way it was awesome and she was right.

I miss having enforces like her and Shea Groom and others. Players that wouldn't take any **** and would physically wipe the opponents
TRM
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AG
Yeah, Shea missed most of the 2011 season for a broken leg. Just the pure excitement and joy she had for the other ladies was so incredible.
oklaunion
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I was new to soccer back around 2010 but there was a right back for the Ags who, to this day, was probably the best I have seen at tackling a forward without getting called on it. Rachael Balaguer was constantly wreaking havoc on the opposition with her sliding tackles.
Kelly Monogue had a knack for backing into a defender before pivoting and sending a rocket toward the net. Such power on a quick move. Annie was also good at this.
CDub06
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AG
What about the talent we had in goal over the years? G really hung his hat on developing those goalkeepers. We've had some stars back there.

Kati Jo Spisak, Kelly Dyer, Jordan Day, Dani Rice. (I know I'm missing some)

KJ was an absolute menace though. And I believe it was her 2002 team that knocked off UCLA in the tournament without taking a shot.
TRM
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AG
CDub06 said:

Melanie Wilson, Kati Jo Spisak, Kristin Arnold, Kelly Dyer, Jordan Day, Dani Rice.


FIFY
greg.w.h
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AG
My last name is Harvey. I graduated from high school in California and learned soccer from local neighborhood children in Indonesia. You can guess which player really broke the mold of American style play in my mind…

I appreciate Coach G for reasons that others might not understand. Title IX cancelled men's soccer during my undergraduate years. G built a program that made me extremely proud of our women's sports and stayed through fat years and lean. If you don't understand that commitment, I understand, but its value to our school is enormous. It's HARD to build a program from scratch.
CDub06
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AG
For sure, for sure. Before my time, but my bad. I know Melanie Wilson deserves a place on this list. She's also one of few soccer players in the Aggie Athletics Hall of Fame
Here4goodSoccer
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This game is actually the reason I started following Aggie soccer. I was wrapping up my own college career and wanted to see what former club and ODP teammates were up to and somehow found this game.

I've been here ever since.
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