vs. Cy-Fair High School - 01.24.23

On Tuesday January 24th, a massive rainstorm moved into the greater Houston area and SBISD issued an order cancelling all after-school sports/activities due to the torrential rain – but with that said, your Varsity Girls Spartan Soccer team still opened District play at home against a tough 11th Ranked 6A-Region 3 Cy-Fair High School Bobcat team that same evening. The rain brought very wet and cold conditions to a night that would see a ton of shot opportunities. Just 8 minutes into the match, the Lady Bobcats were able to get a laser shot off on goal, but Senior Goalie Allison Zilafro sacrificed her body to make the stop and secure the ball, gaining possession for the Spartans. As play progressed in the first half, Senior Lauren Ahearn had not one, not two, but three chances at headers for a goal off of crosses, but all three just missed. At the 30 minute mark, Freshmen Sydney Valentine made a good run up the right side, leaving the Cy-Fair defenders behind, but fired just wide on the left side, leaving the score unchanged at 0-0. Valentine would have the chance for an assist just a minute later with a pass to Sophomore Mary Paul at the top of the box, but Paul’s shot would sail just over the crossbar. With five minutes left to go until halftime, Stratford would finally get the chance to capitalize on the offensive ball control in the first half. Junior Lizzie Emerson dribbled the ball from midfield and made a pass out wide on the right side to waiting Sophomore Allison Goodwin, who was able to loft a pass up right in front of the goal, where Senior Kristin Geczik would lay out and put together a perfect header to the open side of the goal to put SHS up 1-0 going to halftime.

The temperature continued to drop as the second half got underway, and while Cy-Fair made a couple of runs to the Stratford end of the field, the Spartans maintained control of the ball for the remainder of the game. SHS had multiple shots on goal, but just missed on each try (and credit to the Cy-Fair goalie who had a great game). The game would end 1-0 and the Lady Spartans would start district play with one in the win column.

vs. Cy-Creek High School - 01.27.23

On Friday, January 27th the Varsity Girls Soccer team traveled to Cy-Creek High School to battle a tough Cougar team. Just eight minutes into the game, Sophomore Mary Paul slides the ball right up the middle to Sophomore Ryann Weber for the opening goal. Not too much further into the game at the 15 minute mark, Junior Lizzie Emerson makes a great pass in space to Senior Lauren Ahearn, who was tackled from behind on a breakaway, but no foul was called. Over the next 6-7 minutes, SHS had several shot opportunities, but all were cleared by the Cy-Creek goalie. At the 21 minute mark, Senior Ellie Stephenson takes a free kick from distance but misses just over the goal, and then just a minute later, Ahearn takes a shot from distance over a leaping Cougar goal keeper, to go up 2-0. At the 32 minute mark, Paul takes a corner earned by SHS and is able to deliver it right to waiting Senior Kristin Geczik to take us to 3-0. It was great to see all the shot opportunities (and goals) along with dominating defense to completely shut down the Cougars in the first 40 minutes of play.

This game was far from over though, just a minute into the second half, Paul rips a shot from distance, beating an outstretched keeper for a goal, to make it 4-0. It was now time for the defense to shine, when in the 42 minute, Senior Erica Eastman has back-to-back great saves on the first shots of the game for Cy-Creek. Lots of frustration on the other side of the ball as the game was getting more physical and the fouls and yellow cards started to stack up for the Cougars. At the 60 minute mark, Freshmen Sydney Valentine is fouled just outside the box, and Geczik lasers a free kick at the goal, which is initially saved, but the rebound is put in the back of the net by Emerson, taking us to 5-0. As time was ticking down in a game dominated at every turn by the Spartans, Freshmen Sara Benton dribbled to space at the top of the box and fires a shot over an outstretched goalkeeper for the final goal of the game and a 6-0 shutout --- to keep the team undefeated in District play.