In their last game before district play begins, our Stratford Girls Varsity Soccer team took the field vs. DeerPark High School on a cold and breezy Friday night as temperatures dipped toward the 30s.  A few hours earlier in the day the Lady Spartans were informed that they are currently ranked in the top 15 of Texas High School Girls Soccer 6A UIL rankings.  The excitement of that news carried over into the game, as less than 2 minutes after the 7:15pm kickoff, freshmen forward #3 Allison Goodwin stole the ball from DeerPark's defender and blew past another for a goal and a 1-0 lead.  About halfway through the first half, senior outside back #23 Cameron Ballard completed what was essentially about a 35yd throw-in that bounced over the DeerPark goalie and was headed into the goal by senior #7 Hope Coltrin.  With 11 minutes to go in the half, Hope Coltrin dribbled past two defenders on her way to the goal where she crossed it to junior #17 Lauren Ahearn who had her shot blocked, but Allison Goodwin was there ready for the deflection and drilled the ball in the back of the net to put the Lady Spartans up 3-0.  As time ticked down toward the half, Hope Coltrin frustrated DeerPark’s defenders to the point where they had to grab her jersey to slow her down, which resulted in a foul and free kick from just outside DeerPark’s 18-yard box.  Senior #25 Rileigh Toner took the free kick, put it through the goalie’s fingertips and sophomore #8 Lizzy Emerson was able to redirect the ball under the crossbar and take the Spartans to halftime up 4-0.

Four freshmen started the second half - Allison Goodwin, #10 Hannah Ryan, #12 Whitney Bui, & #14 Mary Paul and at the 21 minute mark, Whitney Bui fielded a pass from junior #5 Ellie Stephenson just inside midfield outrunning the remaining defenders and beat the goalie one on one for their fifth goal of the night. With time ticking down to less than 3 minutes left before the final whistle, senior #21 Mia Thames threaded the needle through two defenders to hit Lauren Ahearn in stride on her way to putting one in the back of the net and closing out the match in a dominating fashion and a 6-0 victory.

Congratulations to Allison Goodwin who was named player of the game and good luck to our Stratford Lady Spartans Varsity Soccer team as they make their way into district play.