Momentum carrying Highlander boys
After winning ninth-straight district title, The Woodlands wants more
The Woodlands is a champion again.
The boys soccer team clinched their ninth consecutive district title with morethan aweek left in the regular season.
The Highlanders were 9-0-1 in District 16-6A going into their final two games.
“It gives us a little bit of breathing room to prepare and get people healthy for the playoffs,” coach Hans Kleinschmidt said.
Every player on this year’s roster was in elementary school when the championship streak began in 2008.
Kleinschmidt said they were motivated to make sure it didn’t end on their watch.
“We have a sign that says ‘Tradition never graduates,’ and our kids know what the expectations are, so every year the senior group comes in and says ‘We’re not going to be the ones who break the tradition,’ and they work really hard to continue what the guys ahead of them started,” he said.
The 14th-year coach credits an offensive surge for their success this season.
“We’re averaging over three goals a game, which is a nice surprise from last year,” Kleinschmidt said. “Last year, we were not as explosive going forward, and so we’ve been able to score more goals, and we’re scoring almost 3½ goals a game and giving up less than a goal agame, so that’s in our favor.”
Key players include senior forward Rafael Ortiz, senior defenders Baker Smith and Jacob Moore, and junior midfielder Nicholas Pekel, but Kleinschmidt said every player on the roster is contributing.
“We’ve had a wide variety of people scoring and a wide variety of people who’ve been giving them assists,” he said.
Ortiz is doing most of the scoring again.
The district’s reigning offensive player of the year, who had 12 goals in 16-6A play last season, had 17 through 10 district matches this year, putting him on pace to easily clinch the scoring title.
“Knowing what he did last year, and the pressure he had, he’s done unbelievably well,” Kleinschmidt said. “When he is the target player, and everyone knows him, for him to do what he’s done this year has been really incredible.”
Kleinschmidt said Ortiz’s prolific production comes down to natural ability and hardwork.
“He finds opportunities going forward,” Kleinschmidt said. “He’s a smart player, he finds space, and when the ball finds him, he’s able to turn and shoot.
“He’s a very creative player and it’s been fun watching him this year.”
Junior Wesley Mitchell didn’t play last season.
Nowhe’s a pivotal player in the midfield, where he can attack or defend.
“He’s been in our program before,” Kleinschmidt said. “He chose to play club last year and then he came back.
“He’s such a neat kid and an impactful player.”
Kleinschmidt planned to put Mitchell on the back line going into the season, then moved him to midfield to feature his attacking skills.
“He has a great ability to see the game going forward,” Kleinschmidt said. “He’s done a tremendous job for us.”
So has Mitchell’s younger brother.
The Woodlands promoted freshman Andrew Mitchell last week, and he made his first start in a 2-0 win over Oak Ridge.
“Due to some injuries, we moved him up and gave hima shot, and he’s fit right in for us,” Kleinschmidt said.
The only blemish on The Woodlands’ district record through 10 games was a 1-1 tie with Kingwood.
The two teams meet again Friday in the regularseason finale.
“It was a great game the first time,” Kleinschmidt said. “Of course, our kids want to go back and get that one. Any time you tie, both teams feel like they could have won, and so we’re going to approach Friday like, ‘Hey, let’s see if we can finally beat a team we couldn’t.’”
The playoffs begin next week. The Woodlands’ most likely opponents for the first round are District 15-6A’s Westfield or Klein Collins.
“It’s a very competitive, fast-paced district,” Kleinschmidt said. “They use a different scoring system, so they play overtime and shootouts, and so that district has had some crazy results and we have no idea what to expect next (week).”
Jason McDaniel is a freelance writer who can be reached at jasonrmcdaniel@outlook.com.