Coming off the heels of their first-ever College Cup appearance, the SEC Champion Texas A&M Aggies secured their future, receiving the certified National Letter of Intent or the NCAA-required equivalency for eight of the nation’s finest prep soccer players on Wednesday to bring their 2015 freshman class tally to nine.

“This is a real important class for us,” Texas A&M Head Coach G Guerrieri said. “Obviously we are reloading after graduating such an influential senior class that helped take us to the College Cup, so these players will be expected to step right in and be ready as soon as possible to help us meet our goals for 2015 and beyond.”

Coach Guerrieri’s haul includes six Texans, two players from southern California and one Colorado product.

On Wednesday, A&M added midfielder/forward Emily Bates (Melissa, Texas/Melissa HS/Dallas Texans), forward Brittany Crabtree (Corinth, Texas/Denton Guyer HS/Dallas Sting), midfielder Kate Hajdu (Dallas, Texas/Ursuline Academy/Dallas Sting), defender Amy Kelly (Longview, Texas/Longview HS/Dallas Sting), defender/midfielder Claudette Lassandro (Austin, Texas/Westwood HS/Lonestar SC), defender Kendall Ritchie (Austin, Texas/Westlake HS/Lonestar SC), defender Margaret Schmidt (Orange, California/Mater Dei HS/Slammers SC) and forward Ally Watt (Colorado Springs, Colorado/Pine Creek HS/Pride Soccer Club).

Prior to Wednesday’s eight signees, the Aggies added one of the nation’s top goalkeepers with Mia Hummel (Anaheim, California/Canyon HS/So Cal Blues) enrolling at A&M in January. A&M also added another goalkeeper with the mid-year transfer of Danielle Rice who started every match her first two years at Creighton University.

“This class has an exciting mix of technical ability, speed and versatility,” Guerrieri said. “There are four girls that have already caught the eye of the U.S. National Team program early in their career and there are multiple girls that have the speed and ball skill to provide for an electric atmosphere next year at Ellis Field.”

Following their 2014 College Cup run, the Aggies lost nine graduating seniors from the roster, including three forwards, two midfielders, two defenders and two goalkeepers. These additions to the 2015 roster are expected to make a smooth transition to fill the void.”

“They have a lot of hard work ahead of them,” Guerrieri said, “but this class comes in with the ability and potential to match and exceed the excellence that the class we are graduating achieved. We don’t expect to venture off our path of excellence”

TEXAS A&M SOCCER

2015 SIGNING CLASS

Emily Bates	M/F	5-4	Melissa, Texas	Melissa HS	Dallas Texans
Brittany Crabtree	F	5-10	Corinth, Texas	Denton Guyer HS	Dallas Sting
Kate Hajdu	M	5-10	Dallas, Texas	Ursuline Academy	Dallas Sting
Mia Hummel	GK	5-9	Anaheim, California	Canyon HS	So Cal Blues
Amy Kelly	D	6-0	Longview, Texas	Longview HS	Dallas Sting
Claudette Lassandro	D/M	5-4	Austin, Texas	Westwood HS	Lonestar SC
Kendall Ritchie	D	5-4	Austin, Texas	Westlake HS	Lonestar SC
Margaret Schmidt	D	5-10	Orange, California	Mater Dei HS	Slammers SC
Ally Watt	F	5-8	Colorado Springs, Colorado	Pine Creek HS	Pride Soccer Club

Emily Bates

Melissa, Texas/Melissa HS

Dallas Texans

Midfielder/Forward

·         Has been a member of the United States National Team on the U15 and U17 levels

·         Member of the Dallas Texans Soccer Club for the last six years, including five years as a captain

·         Paced Texans’ U17 ECNL squad coached by Tim Bennett to a fourth-place finish at the 2014 ECNL National Championship in Richmond, Virginia

·         Serving as captain at Melissa High School in the first year of the team’s existence

·         Has helped Melissa HS to a No. 5 ranking in 4A with 43 goals through 14 games

·         Invited to multiple Player Devolvement program and Id2 national events

·         Participated in Dallas-market U.S. soccer events

·         In March 2012, she was the youngest player named to the Top XI of the Dallas ECNL/id2 Player Development Program

·         Multiple-sport athlete at Melissa HS with varsity letters in basketball and track & field

·         Earned second-team All-District 12-3A honors in basketball as a freshman and sophomore

·         Also garnered Academic All-District 12-3A honors in hoops on multiple occasions

·         Represented Melissa HS at the area champion 4x200 title winner and state championship-qualifying 4x400 unit as a junior

COACH GUERRIERI’S TAKE ON EMILY BATES

“Emily Bates is one of the most exciting players in the state of Texas. Our fans will love the way that she moves with and without the ball. She is very creative, very tenacious and a great all-around attacking player who will fit in perfectly with our style. Emily has been a standout and leader on Coach Leo Maric’s Dallas Texans club team and he has her ready to come in and make an impact in Aggieland.”

Brittany Crabtree

Corinth, Texas/Denton Guyer HS

Dallas Sting

Forward

·         Member of the ‘96 Olympic Development Program Region Pool in 2010

·         Participated in the ODP California Developmental Program in 2010

·         Member of the North Texas ODP since 2008

·         Has spent the last year with the Dallas Sting Soccer Club operated by Tatu

·         Saw action with Dallas Texans ECNL squad between 2011-14

·         Helped lead Dallas Texans ECNL 97 to fourth-place finish in 2014 Champions League

·         Earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Winter Region recognition in 2014

·         Awarded the Golden Boot for top individual scorer U14 in the Manchester United Cup in 2011 (6 goals)

·         Member of Dallas Texans Red 97 from 2008-10

·         Led Dallas Texans Red 97 to U14 Disney’s Junior Soccer Showcase and U14 Eclipse Select Challenge Cup titles in 2010

·         Earned three Texas State Cup championships and one Lake Highlands Girls Classic League Division 1 title with Dallas Texans Red 97 (2010-U13, 2009-U12, 2008-U11)

·         Four-year letterwinner at Denton Guyer High School and three-year captain

·         Two-time District 11-4A Offensive Player of the Year

·         Member of Guyer’s Class 4A State Champion squad in 2013

·         Tabbed Guyer High School MVP 2012

·         Named District 7-5A Newcomer of the Year 2012

·         Two-time Academic All-District selection

·         Placed second in the 4x100 and third in the 4x200 at the 2014 Texas Class 4A State Track & Field Championships

·         Habitat for Humanity volunteer since 2011

COACH GUERRIERI’S TAKE ON BRITTANY CRABTREE

“Brittany is a great goal scorer with a knack of finding the back of the net at important times of games.  She is an athletic, tall, target forward who can keep possession for her team, or score from a variety of situations. She’s a winner, not just as a state champion with Guyer High School but also with the ECNL Champions of Dallas Sting, where she has been coached by one of the greatest scorers in American professional soccer history (Tatu).”

Kate Hajdu

Dallas, Texas/Ursuline Academy

Dallas Sting

Midfielder

·         United States Soccer U20 National Team training camp participant in 2014

·         2014 Elite Club National League National Champion (ECNL) with Dallas Sting 97 under the tutelage of Tatu

·         2013 ENCL Texas Player Development Program Region III National Championship Team

·         2013 ECNL/id2 National Training Camp selection

·         Selected for the 2014 ECNL Texas Player Development Program

·         Selected to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s “Top 20 Players from 2014 ECNL Texas Showcase”

·         2014 ECNL Texas Conference champion

·         2013 Top Drawer Soccer Top 11 Player at ECNL Regionals

·         Four-year varsity letterwinner at Ursuline Academy of Dallas

·         Three-time TAPPS Division I State Champion (’12,’13,’14)

·         Member of the 2013 and 2014 TAPPS Division I State Championships All-

·         Tournament Team

·         2014 TAPPS Division I First Team All-State

·         2012 TAPPS Division I Second Team All-State

·         Three-time TAPPS Division I First Team All-District (’12,’13,’14)

·         2014 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year Nomination

·         Ursuline’s 2011-12 Freshman Student Athlete of the Year

·         Named to “First Honor Roll” every semester of her high school career

·         Earned Father Deeves Science Scholarship every year in high school

COACH GUERRIERI’S TAKE ON KATE HAJDU

“Kate Hajdu is one of the best midfielders in the United States. She possesses great range. Kate has a great ability to win the ball on the ground and in the air. We think she has only started to scratch the surface on how great she can be. She plays for a top notch coach, Tatu, on one of the best club teams in America.”

Mia Hummel

Anaheim, California/Canyon HS

SoCal Blues

Goalkeeper

•         Played for Cal South Olympic Development Program 97 team that won back-to-back ODP National Championships in 2013 and 2014 and won multiple Region IV titles

•         Member of Randy Dodge’s So Cal Blues for nine years where she led team to a CalSouth National Cup championship in 2011, two ECNL Conference titles and two ECNL National Championship quarterfinals

•         Led So Cal Blues to back-to-back Surf College Cup championships in 2012 and 2013 and one Surf Cup summer championship

•         Participated in the U.S. Soccer Girls U14 National Team ID camp in 2011, four United States National Training Center camps and the 2012 Puma Women’s Elite Showcase

•         Played two sports at Canyon High School in Anaheim (soccer and track & field)

•         Only Century League athlete (male or female) to be named MVP in two separate sports in 2013

•         Three-year letterwinner in soccer at Canyon HS, owning records for career goals-against average (0.63), career saves (523) and single-season shutouts

•         Team captain the last two seasons and a unanimous All-Century League First Team all three seasons

•         Named All-Orange County Second Team, All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) South Section Division I First Team and Canyon High School MVP as a junior

•         Earned All-OC First Team, All-CIF/SS Division I First Team, Century League Defensive MVP and Team MVP as a sophomore

•         Named All-CIF/SS Division I Second Team and Canyon High School Rookie of the Year as a freshman

•         Two-year letterwinner in track & field

•         Helped squad to a Century League championship as a sophomore, earning Century League MVP honors by winning the 100 Meters (school record), 200 Meters (school record), Long Jump and 4x100 (Century League record)

•         Went undefeated in Century League action in the 100 Meter (PR – 12.18), 200 Meter (PR – 25.30), 4x100 and Long Jump as a junior

•         Placed second in the Long Jump and the 4x100 (school record) at the Orange County Championships in 2014 and won the Irvine Invitational title in the Long Jump (17’7”)

•         Was team captain, All-Orange County, Century League Sprints MVP and Canyon High School Jumps MVP in 2014

•         Long Jump PR of 18’8” at the Century League preliminaries was the best in Orange County in 2014, second all-time for Canyon High School, and top 10 in California in 2014

·         Canyon HS 204 High School Female Athlete of the Year, the first junior to ever

COACH GUERRIERI’S TAKE ON MIA HUMMEL

“Mia is a winner. She is very athletic, quick and courageous, and she is used to winning. She comes from one of the best youth soccer clubs in America. Randy Dodge and the rest of the So Cal Blues coaches, provided a great learning environment for her to become one of the very best young goalkeepers in America. She joins several other Blues alumni (Leigh Edwards, Janae Cousineau and Ana Cruz) on our roster in recent years. She fits right into our tradition having some of the best goalkeepers in America representing Texas A&M Soccer.”

Amy Kelly

Longview, Texas/Longview HS

Dallas Sting

Defender

•         Member of Dallas Sting Soccer Club

•         Participated in the 2014 US Youth Soccer National Championship

•         Three-time Female Athlete of the Year at Longview High School

•         Earned All-District 15-5A Second Team as a freshman, her only season playing prep soccer

•         Four-year varsity letterwinner in Track & Field and Cross Country

•         Also lettered in Softball, Powerlifting, Swimming, and Soccer

•         Two-year member of the National Honor Society and four-year member of Student Council

•         Named Longview High School Female Athlete of the Year as a freshman, sophomore and junior

•         Four-year member of the Honor Roll, including two years on the All “A” Honor Roll

•         Avid runner who has completed six half-marathons and multiple triathlons

•         Has won her age group in multiple events, including the 2011 Daytona Triathlon, 2011 and 2014 River Cities Triathlon, 2012 Monster Dash 10K, 2013 Longview Sprint Triathlon

·         Has logged 100s of hours of volunteer work for numerous entities, including Coats for Kids, Boys and Girls Club, Longview Theater Ballet Carnival, Longview Farmers Market, Longview School Supply Train and Mobberly Baptist Church

COACH GUERRIERI’S TAKE ON AMY KELLY

“Amy is a great all-around athlete, who’s very competitive in everything she does.  She is a strong, fast defender who has developed greatly in the Sting program, and I know will be able to come in and thrive in our Aggie soccer environment.”

Claudette Lassandro

Austin, Texas/Westwood HS

Lonestar SC

Defender/Midfielder

•         Plays club soccer for Lonestar SC ECNL 97 under tutelage of Darren Warham

•         Appeared in ECNL national playoffs in 2013-14

•         Participated in ECNL Player ID program

•         Selected as to 2013 IMG Academy 150 Player Pool for 2015 graduates

•         Attended United States Soccer Federation Training Center sessions in Spring 2011 and Winter 2012

•         Helped propel Lonestar to USYNC Region III Championship final in 2011

•         Selected for Lonestar “Travel & Play” trip to Germany to play against Germany and Netherlands U17 teams in 2011

•         Played for Region III Premier League West championship team

•         Four-year varsity letterwinner at Westwood High School

•         Named TopDrawerSoccer.com High School Player of the Week on once during 2014-15 campaign

•         Serving as team captain as a senior

•         Led squad to Bi-District champion and area title in District 16-5A as a junior

•         Earned All-District 16-5A First Team as a sophomore and junior

•         Selected Westwood High School Offensive Player of the Year and led the squad in goals as a freshman

•         Two-time recipient of the Round Rock ISD Sports Award

•         Three-time Academic All-District 16-5A

•         Selected for the Westwood Academic Achievement Award in each of her first three years

•         Owns a 4.0 grade-point average at Westwood High School

•         Qualified for District 16-5A meet in the 4x400 Meter Relay as a sophomore

·         Participated on Westwood HS Varsity Flag Football squad, winning a district title with an undefeated season in 2013 and finishing second in 2012

COACH GUERRIERI’S TAKE ON CLAUDETTE LASSANDRO

“Claudette is a great attacking player. She has literally played all over the field. She has a sweet left foot, and is outstanding at serving and setting up teammates or finishing off chances herself. I can envision her playing anywhere on our left flank, much like she has played with Coach Darren Warham at Lonestar SC.”

Kendall Ritchie

Austin, Texas/Westlake HS

Lonestar SC

Defender

•         Plays club soccer for Lonestar SC ECNL 97G coached by Darren Warham

•         Helped lead Lonestar to U17 Champions League finals in 2013-14 and U16 Champions League finals in 2012-13

•         Three-year letterwinner at Westlake High School, playing for former Texas A&M captain Rennie Rebe (class of ‘94)

•         Led the Chaparrals in assists as a sophomore and junior

•         Named District 15-5A Utility Player of the Year and Central Area Defender of the Year as a junior

•         Selected All-Region II Class 5A First Team and All-District 15-5A Fist Team and Academic All-District 15-5A in 2014

•         Garnered All-District 15-5A First Team recognition as a sophomore

•         Tabbed All-District 15-5A Second Team and grabbed Impact Freshman Recognition at the National Elite Prep Showcase in 2012

·         Four-year member of the Westlake High School Choir and currently a member of the Westlake Madrigals, select vocalists group

COACH GUERRIERI’S TAKE ON KENDALL RITCHIE

“Kendall is another great left-footed player coming out of Coach Darren Warham’s Lonestar Soccer Club. She brings versatility and we think she can play a number of roles. Right now she is playing outstanding soccer as a defender for their ECNL team.”

Margaret Schmidt

Orange, California/Mater Dei

Slammers SC

Defender

•         Plays club soccer for Slammers FC led by Coach Whalid Khoury

•         Earned spot in Elite Clubs National League Playoffs in 2013 and 14 and advanced to ECNL National Championship final in 2013.

•         Helped Slammers FC earn No. 1 national ranking in 2013

•         Led Slammers FC to a title at the Nike Invitational Copa Real in 2011, a runner-up finish at the 2012 Surf Cup and semi-finalist showings at the 2011 National Cup and 2012 Slammers Cup

•         Will be a four-year varsity letterwinner on Mater Dei High School soccer team

•         Two-time All-Trinity League selection

•         Named a “Player to Watch” by the Orange County Register’s OCVarsity.com

•         Led Mater Dei to deep runs at the California Interscholastic Federation playoff each of her first three seasons, including quarterfinal showings in 2011 and 2013 and a Sweet 16 appearance in 2012

•         Brother, Joe Schmidt is a member of the University of Notre Dame football squad and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in 2014

•         Sister, Mary Grace Schmidt played soccer for Texas A&M from 2009-11 and served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Aggies in 2013-14

•         Volunteer at the Mater Dei High School Summer Soccer Camp and Slammers FC Summer Soccer Camp

·         Volunteer at Mary’s Kitchen, St. Norberts Parish Festival, KidWorks and City of Hope

COACH GUERRIERI’S TAKE ON MARGARET SCHMIDT

“Margaret is a great all-around player. As a soccer player, Margaret stands out as tall and physical, but she is also very skillful. She can not only stop the opponent, but she’s very good at playmaking from the back. She is the latest in pipeline of strong defensive-minded players who’ve come to Aggieland after playing for Coach Walid Khoury’s Slammer FC youth program, including Mary Grace Schmidt, Ashlynn Harryman and Renee McDermott. She comes from an outstanding athletic family with a brother who plays linebacker at Notre Dame and sisters who have played Division I soccer and run Division I track.”

Ally Watt

Colorado Springs, Colorado/Pine Creek HS

Pride Soccer Club

Forward

•         Member of the United States U20 National Team

•         ODP State and Regional Team Member

•         Member of Pride Soccer Club Predators 97 under Coach Sian Husdon

•         Player for the Region IV ODP team since 2012 and the Colorado ODP since 2010

•         Two-time Most Valuable Player at the Colorado State Cup

•         Helped guide Region IV ODP team to Costa Rica International Tournament title

•         Two-sport athlete at Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado

•         Named Colorado Springs Metro League 5A Player of the Year and All-Colorado Springs Metro League First Team in 2014

•         Selected Colorado High School Athletic Association MaxPreps All-State Second Team in 2014

•         Four-year letterwinner in track & field

•         Ran the anchor leg on the current Colorado record holder in the 4x200 Meter Relay

•         Won state titles in both the 100 Meter and 200 Meter at the 2012 and 2014 Colorado Class 5A Track & Field Championship

•         Captured state titles in the 4x100 Meter and 4x200 Meter at the Colorado Class 5A Track & Field Championship in 2013 and 2014

•         Currently on the All-America watch list for indoor track & field with the fastest 60 meter time in the nation

•         Earned MVP honors in the high school portion of the 2014 Kansas Relays

·         Member of Principal Honor Roll all three years at Pine Creek High School

COACH GUERRIERI’S TAKE ON ALLY WATT

“Ally Watt is someone who is going to be a 12th Man favorite. She is one of the fastest players in America and she brings electricity to the pitch. She’s a two-sport athlete, being one of the fastest prep sprinters in Colorado, but she’s also a great goal scorer. US Soccer has identified her as one of the top talents in the country, placing her on the Under-20 National Team and she is doing great things with the Pride Soccer Club Predators coached by Sian Hudson”