Spartans savor another run at title
Seven Lakes has been to two previous state tournaments in girls soccer, but preparing for one is a welcome new experience for the current group of Spartans and coach Kaitlyn Eidson.
Meetings, paperwork, film, countless congratulatory messages, a send-off parade at the school. Eidson would not trade any of it, and neither would the players.
“There’s a lot of excitement between everyone,” junior defender Olivia Orellana said. “We’re all trying to hype each other up for this weekend. We’ve been working at it all season. We’ve overcome so many obstacles so it just feels really rewarding to get this far.”
Seven Lakes (19-3-5), the Region III-6A champion, plays I-6A champion Prosper (24-2-2) in the UIL Class 6A state semifinals at noon Friday at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown. A win would mean a 4 p.m. final Saturday against Rockwall (21-3-2) or Austin Westlake (16-4-2).
The Spartans have kept their season going with a successful mix of established varsity players and several playing new or more significant roles this season.
Senior midfielder Wagoner Towsen, senior defender Valarie Trinh and junior defender Kennedy Reed all had two all-district seasons to their credit entering the season. They experienced the highs and lows, including a 22-1-2 season last year that ended in the Region III-6A quarterfinals. Still playing together this late in the year is something to appreciate for a group that includes nine seniors.
“I feel like we’re playing for each other and that’s what makes it more special,” Reed said. “The support from everyone at school and everywhere has been really good. It’s really inspiring.”
Orellana and Reed both credited a gradual improvement in team chemistry as a factor in the Spartans’ success.
Seven Lakes graduated an experienced senior class in 2023, one that included several all-state and all-region players. Matching their level of play was going to take time.
“I think this team, we’ve had to fight for everything,” Reed said. “We didn’t come into the year thinking we were going to make state. I think that’s why we’re here. We really fought for everything and we want it so bad.”