Senior date engineering winger Andres Sanchez crosses the field in Texas A&M’s home opener against LSU on Sept. 18, 2026 at Penberthy Sports Complex.
Photo Credit: Anastasia Acosta
College Station, TX | KANM Sports
The Texas A&M Men’s Club Soccer team opened its 2026 season in commanding fashion Friday night, defeating rival LSU 6-1 at the Penberthy Sports Complex Soccer Field.
After a month and a half of preseason preparation, the Aggies came into the season opener looking to establish themselves early. From the opening whistle, Texas A&M set the tone with relentless high-pressing, quick attacks down the flanks and a high defensive line that repeatedly forced LSU into mistakes.
For the Aggies, the opening match was more than just the first game on the schedule. It was an opportunity to start the season with momentum and show what the team had been building during preseason.
Gilles Schreiber, an exchange student from Belgium majoring in Business, said the team understood the importance of getting a win to begin the season.
“We’ve been training hard for about a month and a half, and today’s result reflects how well we prepared,” Schreiber said.
Schreiber said beginning the season with a victory can help establish a strong foundation for the games ahead.
“It was an important game to start the season off with a win,” Schreiber said. “A strong start sets a good road ahead of us.”
Although the Aggies were disappointed to let us a late goal, Schreiber said the overall performance showed the benefits of the team’s preparation.
“Conceding one goal hurts a bit, but overall it feels great to score so many and get the win,” Schreiber said.
First Half: Aggies Break Through
The match began with intense physical battles and a tightly contested midfield struggle. LSU managed to keep Texas A&M from finding an early breakthrough, but the Aggies continued to pressure the Tigers and create opportunities.
The breakthrough came in the 30th minute when No. 21 Eli Hernandez found the back of the net with a crisp finish to give Texas A&M a 1-0 advantage.
The goal shifted the momentum toward the Aggies. Texas A&M continued attacking through the wings and creating opportunities around the LSU penalty area.
The Aggies added two more goals before halftime, heading into the break with a 3-0 lead.
Texas A&M’s ability to maintain pressure while quickly moving the ball allowed the Aggies to control the pace of the match. Their high defensive line also helped keep LSU from generating sustained offensive pressure.
Second Half: Frey’s Hat-Trick Seals the Game
The second half belonged to No. 17 JC Frey.
The sophomore Construction Science major scored three goals to complete a hat-trick and put the match out of reach. Frey consistently capitalized on second balls, defensive mistakes and opportunities created by Texas A&M’s pressure.
For Frey, the first game of the season was also an opportunity to establish himself as a leader on the field.
“It’s our first game. I really wanted to show out and reflect what our first game needs to be,” Frey said. “I consider myself a leader on the field and I wanted to show that, and there’s no better place to show that than the first game. So that was my mindset going into this game.”
Frey’s three goals helped Texas A&M maintain control as the Aggies continued to attack throughout the second half.
Crosses from the left side repeatedly created problems for LSU’s defense, while Texas A&M’s forwards continued to find space inside the box. The Aggies also used their high press to win possession in dangerous areas and quickly turn defensive stops into counterattacking opportunities.
Despite LSU scoring a late consolation goal, Texas A&M continued to control the match and closed out a 6-1 victory.
Building Chemistry Across the Team
The Aggies’ performance was the result of more than individual scoring performances. The team had spent the previous month and a half developing chemistry and preparing together for the season.
Frey said that chemistry has been especially important during preseason, with the A team regularly scrimmaging against the B team.
“As Gilles said, we’ve been practicing for a month and a half and we’ve been trying to build chemistry as much as we can,” Frey said. “We scrimmage with our B team.”
The relationship between the A and B teams is an important part of the club’s overall culture. Although the A team opened the season Friday, members of the B team were on the sideline supporting their teammates throughout the match.
Frey said that support goes both ways.
“Our B-team cheered us on from the bench today, and on Sunday, we’re all going out to support them,” Frey said. “We’re going to keep this momentum going into our next match against UTSA.”
The B team will play Sunday, giving the club another opportunity to compete while allowing the A team and other members of the program to support them from the sidelines.
From Belgium to Aggieland
For Schreiber, the start of the soccer season has also been part of a larger transition to life at Texas A&M.
Coming to College Station from Belgium, Schreiber said he was surprised by the size of the university and the campus community.
“I didn’t realize how big the campus was,” Schreiber said.
He also said he was surprised by how welcoming people have been since he arrived at Texas A&M.
“I was surprised about how nice everyone would be,” Schreiber said.
When asked what his favorite part of Texas A&M has been so far, Schreiber had difficulty choosing just one thing.
“The food has been nice,” he said.
Schreiber said he particularly enjoys the burgers and salads available around campus.
His adjustment to Texas A&M has extended beyond campus life and into the soccer program, where he has quickly become part of a team that has spent weeks preparing for the season.
Frey Brings Experience From Tarleton State
Frey also enters the season with previous collegiate soccer experience.
Before transferring to Texas A&M, Frey played at Tarleton State, where he was named the program’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Frey said his experience at Tarleton State was positive, but the environment at Texas A&M has provided a different experience because of the university’s size and the energy surrounding the program.
“Tarleton State was great. I loved it,” Frey said. “I knew a lot of people. It was a lot smaller. It was more personable.”
Frey said Texas A&M has provided a different atmosphere.
“But here at Texas A&M, a lot more energy,” Frey said. “Playing with this team means a lot more. They’re just a bigger name. The energy here is just unmatched.”
After earning Offensive Player of the Year honors at Tarleton State, Frey said he is looking forward to seeing what he can accomplish with Texas A&M.
His individual success was on display Friday, but Frey emphasized the importance of the team’s preparation and chemistry throughout the match.
A Strong Start for the Club
Friday’s victory gave Texas A&M Men’s Club Soccer the start it had been working toward throughout preseason.
Schreiber’s emphasis on preparation, Frey’s three-goal performance and the contributions throughout the lineup helped the Aggies build a 6-1 victory over LSU. At the same time, the support between the A and B teams demonstrated that the club’s season extends beyond one lineup or one game.
The B team will take the field Sunday against UTSA, with members of the A team planning to return the support they received during Friday’s match. The A team will then prepare for its upcoming matchup against Texas State..
With both teams continuing their seasons, Texas A&M Men’s Club Soccer will look to carry the energy from its opening-night victory into the games ahead.
For Schreiber, the win provided the strong beginning the team wanted after weeks of hard work.
For Frey, it offered an opportunity to establish himself as a leader and make an immediate impact.
But the 6-1 result ultimately reflected the work of an entire club that spent the preseason building chemistry, competing together and preparing for the 2026 season.
This match also marked one of KANM Sports’ first steps into expanded coverage of Texas A&M’s campus club sports. By covering teams beyond NCAA and SEC athletics, KANM Sports aims to bring more student-athlete stories and campus sports experiences to the Aggie community.
Written by: Logan Hwang and Anastasia Acosta
