CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Heading into year two of the
Daniel Clitnovici era, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi soccer team finally returns to action on Thursday, hitting the road to open the 2025 season in a first-time matchup against Arkansas State.
After more than nine months away, the Islanders hit the pitch once again trying to build upon a historic 2024 campaign in which they achieved undoubtedly the best season in program history. In Clitnovici's first year at the helm, the team put together its first-ever winning season and a school-best second place finish in the Southland Conference regular season standings, doing so while also achieving its most wins (10), longest winning streak (5), longest unbeaten streak (7), most home wins (6) and most conference points (20) since its inception in 2013, among many other accomplishments. A&M-Corpus Christi also matched its best-ever run in the SLC Women's Soccer Championship, reaching the semifinals after taking down No. 7 Lamar in the first round at the Dr. Jack Dugan Family Soccer and Track Stadium in Corpus Christi.
The Islanders will now try to build upon the momentum of the 2024 season with a new cast of characters, returning nine players from last year's group while adding eight transfers and 10 freshmen to the mix. The team is not without its key holdovers, however, as it brings back contributors such as All-SLC Second Team selection
Mai-Lisa Atis, SLC All-Academic Second Team selection
Cilia Leal and 2024 goals leader
Morgan Westbury, who will all look to provide a stabilizing presence amidst the turnover on the roster.
"Last season on the Island was my favorite so far as an Islander," said Atis upon the group's return to practice in late July. "I'm incredibly proud of everything we accomplished as a team, the milestones we reached and the records we broke. It all makes me even more excited for what's ahead. I'm ready to keep growing, improving and becoming better with this team."
The season opener will provide the Islanders with a test against an unfamiliar foe, as Thursday's game will be their first time ever matching up with the Red Wolves, who enter the contest coming off of a year in which they posted an overall record of 4-6-6 and a mark of 1-5-4 in Sun Belt Conference play. The only experience that A&M-Corpus Christi has squaring off against any team in the current iteration of the Sun Belt comes against in-state foe Texas State, with the Islanders holding an all-time record of 2-4 against the Bobcats and dropping their most recent showdown back in 2022.
Thursday's game can be watched live on ESPN+ with Will Oswalt on the call from Jonesboro. The live stats can also be followed along as they happen.
Game 1 // A&M-Corpus Christi at Arkansas State
Date: Thursday, August 14
Time: 4:00 p.m. CT
Location: A-State Soccer Complex // Jonesboro, AR
Game Notes
Watch Live
Live Stats
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