COLLEGE STATION, Texas – In search of its 16th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, the Texas A&M(w) soccer team begins its spring practice Friday afternoon at the Aggie Soccer Stadium.

The Aggies made a run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division I Championship for the 10th time in program history in 2009 and begin preparations for 2010 with its non-traditional season this spring.

The Aggies have been in strength and speed training for eight hours-a-week and move to 20 hours-a-week today, with a similar practice schedule as the fall season.

“The non-traditional spring season is one of the most important times of the year for us,” commented A&M head coach G Guerrieri. “It allows for us to concentrate on player development and helps to mentally and physically prepare us to win championships during our fall season.”

The Aggie soccer team loses just three letterwinners from last year’s squad and welcomes two newcomers, Rachel Lenz, who is training with the team, and Sara Ellis, who signed with Texas A&M on National Signing Day, Feb. 3. The Aggies finished with a 15-7-3 record and were ranked No. 13 in the final poll of 2009.

Check back with AggieAthletics.com on Monday, Feb. 8, when the Texas A&M soccer team releases its spring schedule.