It’s a Texas A&M U. tradition that has stood the test of time — the Twelfth Man. The story of E. King Gill, the former football player who was pulled from the stands to suit up in the Dixie Classic against Centre College has been passed down from generation to generation.

Now, 78 years later, we have another story of a former athlete being pulled from the stands to suit up in a time of need, but this story has gone completely under the radar. And, with just two games left, it’s time that we give tribute to the Twelfth Woman, Aggie goalkeeper Sarah Pierson.

In 2007, the junior was redshirted, and saw limited playing time, five games to be exact. In those five games, the most time Pierson saw in one game was 16 minutes and 40 seconds, in a matchup with Houston Baptist that the Aggies won 6-2.

With the 2009 season approaching, Pierson had a choice to make — fight for time in an already crowded platoon between slated starter Kristin Arnold (who was returning from a knee injury sustained in 2008) and Kelly Dyer, who had started over Pierson in the remaining games of 2008, or try her hand at being just a student.

Pierson chose the latter and walked away from the A&M soccer team.

Fast-forward to 2010. The Aggies, fresh off a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Soccer Championships, come back with experience across the board and players returning from injury. However, a problem emerges for Head Coach G Guerreri and his Aggie soccer team.

Arnold, the starting keeper, had minor surgery to repair her knee, and Dyer had torn her ACL, rendering her incapable of playing in the spring season.

Facing the possibility of playing a field player in goal for the spring, Guerreri made the decision to call Pierson back for the season.

Pierson talked to her parents, and weighed the pros and cons. After deliberation, Pierson agreed to finish the season in net for the Aggies.

In a schedule that looks like the non-conference schedule of college football teams (cupcakes like Stephen F. Austin (10-8-2 in the Southland Conference), SMU (7-11-1) and Houston (4-12-2)), Pierson stepped up admirably, especially considering she had not played in organized soccer in more than a year.

Pierson went 4-1-1 in her games as keeper, in front of a handful of fans for each match, in a season that has no playoffs and no standings. Her efforts, however, aren’t diminished by this fact. Just because the wins and losses had no impact doesn’t mean Pierson stepping up had no impact. By coming back for a few weeks, everyone benefitted.

Guerreri didn’t have to put a field player or Arnold, who had needed knee surgery, in goal. Pierson was able to play the sport she loves in an organized setting, and the fans got an interesting storyline in a spring season usually reserved for doing nothing more than shaking off the rust.

Pierson’s story may not carry the same weight as Gill’s, but her willingness to step in and play, even if she won’t be back (Arnold and Dyer are expected to be ready by the beginning of the 2010 fall season), is admirable.

So, for selflessly stepping in when Aggie sports needed you the most, here’s to you, Sarah Pierson.