Defense goes long way for Atascocita girls
Tompkins is ranked No. 1 in the country, Kingwood has a deep tradition, and Cinco Ranch has been to four state semifinals since 2014.
Yet the Atascocita girls aren’t feeling defensive because their history doesn’t quite match the rest of the Class 6A Region III girls soccer tournament field.
Defensive is instead the modus operandi for a Lady Eagles team that has allowed the fewest goals of the four this season.
Atascocita surrendered only five goals in 25 matches — one in the run of playoffs.
“We’re definitely a possession-based team that defends well,” Lady Eagles coach Zane Barnes said. “Sometimes it’s been difficult for us to find the back of the net, but our mentality is, if we can keep the ball, then you don’t have it and you can’t score.”
That mentality has them in the regional semifinals for the second time in three years.
Atascocita take on Tompkins (24-0), and Kingwood (23-1-3) faces Cinco Ranch (14-6-5) at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively, Friday at Abshier Stadium. The regional final is 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
The field features two Katy ISD and two Humble ISD clubs, with both districts aiming for two regional finalists.
Katy ISD is renowned for its girls soccer teams. Cinco Ranch and Tompkins met in a sixth consecutive allKaty regional final last year, and at least one Katy team has made the regional finals each of the last 10 seasons, going back to Seven Lakes in 2009.
So how will another district finally break Katy’s stranglehold?
“It’s going to take quality play,” Barnes said. “Obviously, as a coach, I’m confident in my group, but we’ve played Kingwood twice, and they have a great chance this year. (Kingwood coach) Pres (Holcomb) is a friend of mine, but I know the district — and I know Katy’s gotten the better end of the deal the majority of the time — and this could be the year for the east side of Houston.”
The Lady Falcons are No. 1 in the Texas Girls Coaches Association 6A poll and Top Drawer Soccer’s Fab 50 national rankings, and they played in the state finals two years ago, falling 2-0 to Pflugerville Hendrickson.
Elsik, Tompkins are familiar foes
It is déjà vu for defending state champion Elsik and Tompkins in the Class 6A Region III boys tournament. They are meeting in the regional semifinals for the third time in four years.
The Rams (22-1-1), who returned seven starters from last year’s historic squad, are ranked No. 7 in the country by Top Drawer Soccer. The Falcons, who also boasts plenty of experience, are No. 9.
They play at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Abshier Stadium
Elsik beat Tompkins 2-1 in their last two fourthround meetings.
Rams players Steven Guillen, Jose Ventura, Javier Ordonez and Miguel Chavarria have made critical contributions in the postseason, and junior captains forward Mayo Linares (24 goals, 23 assists), midfielder Edgar Renteria (17 goals, 12 assists) and defender Andrei Aguirre set the tone all year for Elsik.
Their commitment has the Rams in the hunt for a second title — even though they still have another year to get it done. Guillen is the only senior, and most of the key players are juniors.
“When they bring that up, I tell them real quick, if somebody wants to give you $1 million this year or next year, when do you want it? You can wait, and when next year comes around, guess what might happen: I could tell you, ‘Hey, I’m sorry I’ve only got $8,000 left. Something happened to it,’” Elsik coach Vincenzo Cox said. “Anything can happen between now and a year from now, so we don’t want to wait.”
Aldine boys have state in sights
To call the Aldine boys soccer team an underdog is disingenuous. The Mustangs are in their third regional tournament since 2015.
The path toward this year’s regional is worth noting, though. Aldine is the only fourth seed left in the Class 6A bracket.
It started with a 1-0 victory over District 15-6A champion The Woodlands in the bi-district round.
Said Mustangs coach Melbin Barahona after that playoff win: “They gave their hearts for this win. I was not expecting this. I thought, really, (the Highlanders) were going to kick our behinds. But they definitely did what they had to do, and I’m so happy because of that.”
Aldine is two steps from a state tournament berth now, with Garland Sachse in their way at 4 p.m. Friday in the Region II final four at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Austin.
The significance in that? Since 1969-70, Aldine ISD has had six total athletics teams play for a state title — none in soccer.
Sharpstown has torch for HISD
Wheatley, Sharpstown, Sam Houston, Washington and Wisdom have given Houston ISD a strong reputation in boys soccer the last few years.
Sharpstown commands that spotlight alone this year. It plays Cedar Park in the Class 5A Region III semifinal Friday.
The Apollos’ last regional tournament stay came in 2017 when Wheatley and Washington were bossing the 4A bracket. The following year, Wisdom made the state tournament.
Sharpstown hopes to match that feat for the first time in program history by the end of the weekend.