QUITE SIMPLY, ONE OF A KIND
It was going to take a special group to get The Woodlands back to those expected deep playoff runs, and the 2017 group was it.
Leading that group was Jazzy Richards, the talented Oklahoma commitment who led a relentless offensive unit that even deep in the playoffs had the scoreboard operators busy.
Given the option, the junior midfielder would take a perfectly timed assist over a goal, though there were plenty of both. Richards led the Highlanders with 29 goals while her 17 assists were just two shy of tying for the team lead.
“She’s not always about her,” The Woodlands coach Dina Graves said. “She coaches on the field. She’s just that kind of player. You can put her anywhere on the field and she’s going to be successful. When she was younger, she played in the goal. So, she’s got that mentality of directing traffic, per se. … She’s definitely somebody that your attention gravitates towards because she’s just that kind of player.”
The Woodlands just missed the state tournament, falling to eventual champion Pflugerville Hendrickson in the regional finals. But the Highlanders served notice with Richards leading the way.
Q: How would you describe the 2017 season for your team?
A: “Obviously, it didn’t go exactly the way we wanted it to because we didn’t want to end at regionals. But I think it was an eye-opener for what is to come next year. It really showed us that we have it.
“We have what it takes to go far and bring home the state championship. It was a blessing really because it showed us that we can do it and we have the talent to do it. We just have to keep on working.”
Q: Were you able to meet the goals you set for yourself?
A: “Every year, I strive to be the leading goal scorer and also strive to have just as many assists as goals. I didn’t reach that goal, but I go more for assists than goals because you need an assist to your goal, and I think the assist is just as important and oftentimes overlooked.”
Q: What is more fun — scoring the goal or setting up the goal?
A: “Now, it is a lot of fun to score goals. But it’s more rewarding personally to assist and be able to help your teammates in that way.”
Q: Which goal or assist is you favorite from the season?
A: “The Naaman Forest game. The fourth goal that I had. It was a toepoke-type of goal from about 20-something yards out.
“It was funny because I just looked back at my teammates after it went in like, ‘Can y’all believe that went in? I can’t.’ The third one as well. With both, we were all in disbelief that they went in.”
Q: Which team or player matchup did you enjoy the most?
A: “Probably the round four playoff game against Klein. A lot of us know the Klein players pretty well. They’re our friends and club teammates.
“We beat them earlier in the season and we knew they were going to come after us with a little fire. There were jitters — none of us had ever been past the second round. So to be in the fourth round playing against people we know and in front of so many people was something. In that moment, we were the underdogs … but we were able to rally together and come back (and win).” Q: What is the biggest strength of
your game?
A: “I think I see the game well. There are a lot other kids who can’t. Even now — I watch the game a lot, like the Premier League and La Liga, and I think I’m able to take the things that I see in those games and apply them to our games.
“Obviously our game isn’t as fastpaced so it’s good because in my head, I’m able to slow the game down and then be able to pick up the speed before anything even happens in front of me.” Q: What’s your pregame routine? A: “Before every game, I do certain handshakes with a bunch of different teammates. If we forget — because I have so many — we make sure to get it in at halftime. Always have to have the handshakes.
“There’s a lot of practice that goes into them. Some of them just came to me, but others were a nice collaboration with my teammates.”
Q: So then which handshake was your favorite?
A: “The best combination was mine with Lauren Toma. We actually had two and they were both the best.”