vs. Jersey Village Falcons – Tuesday, February 14th

It was a beautiful Valentine’s evening for another home game at Tully Stadium this last Tuesday, where the Stratford Girls Varsity Soccer Team would match up against District opponent Jersey Village High School. The Spartans would take early control and dominate the offensive possession throughout the first half and the crowd wouldn’t have to wait long to find something to cheer about. Just 8 minutes into the game, Senior Kristin Geczik would get to show off her leg with a 25-yard blast from midfield to the top left corner of the goal, never giving the goalie a chance – and with that, the Spartans were quickly on the board 1-0. Not long after that, at the 15-minute mark Freshman Sara Benton would dribble up the left sideline, beating her defender and centering the ball to Freshman Sydney Valentine, who was patiently waiting in front of the goal and would go left foot to the inside post to increase the lead to 2-0. The Lady Spartans would continue to maintain control throughout the half, but would take the game to halftime with a two goal lead.

The Spartans would come out of halftime on fire and just 7 minutes in, Sophomore Hannah Ryan would loft one from the right corner to midfield where Sophomore Mary Paul would make a quick touch to Sophomore Whitney Bui, who fired top left corner to increase the lead over the Lady Falcons, 3-0. Quickly after this goal at the 54-minute mark, Ryan would make a run down the right sideline and fire a cross out in front of the goal, where the Jersey Village goalie would mishandle the ball and give Bui another shot and put the Spartans up 4-0. Not long after, SHS would get an opportunity to increase the lead again when Paul sent a pass ahead of Sophomore Allison Goodwin, who picked it up and dribbled through two defenders and beat the goalie left-side to make it 5-0. At the 65-minute mark, the ball was cleared by the Jersey Village goalie, but Sophomore Ryann Weber was there to pick it off and outrun everyone back to the Falcon end of the field and then beat the charging goalie to go to 6-0. With less that 10 minutes to go in the game, the Spartans would have one more scoring opportunity when Bui would make a pass from the left side to Senior Elle Howell, who would dribble through two defenders and beat the goalie one last time to close out the game 7-0… and take the Varsity Girls Soccer to 7-0 in District play.

vs. Cy Fair High School Bobcats – Friday, February 17th

Under the lights on a cold Friday night at Pridgeon Stadium, Stratford prepared to battle fellow District contender Cy Fair High School. The Spartans pressed the action early with Junior Lizzie Emerson finding Sophomore Ryann Weber streaking down the left side of the field in the 7th minute. Weber fired top shelf to beat the keeper and put SHS up 1-0. The Lady Spartans threatened again in the 13th minute when Freshman Sydney Valentine found Senior Lauren Ahearn on the right side, but the chance goes just wide on the near post. In the 14th minute, the Bobcats found themselves with a great opportunity right in front of the Stratford goal, but the Cy Fair striker’s shot sailed over the crossbar. Stratford went back on the offensive and had numerous scoring opportunities in the 19th, 21st, and 22nd minutes, but a Cy-Fair defense held strong and kept the score at 1-0. The Bobcats earned a corner in the 30th minute, but the Stratford defense was able to clear the danger and regain possession. Finally, in the 34th minute Senior Liz Pretzantzin fed Sophomore Sara Benton, who slid a ball to Valentine on the left side, where she was able to create space for a shot from the 18-yard line, beating the keeper near post for a 2-0 Stratford lead, where it would remain until half time.

Just eight minutes into the second half, Stratford would threaten again with Sophomore Hannah Ryan finding Senior Elle Howell in front of the goal for a redirected shot that slid just wide. Cy Fair struggled to find a response, but in the 53rd minute the Lady Bobcats would fire their best shot of the night on frame, but leaping goalkeeper Senior Allison Zilafro made an incredible save, deflecting the shot wide and preserving a clean sheet. In the 76th minute, a Stratford corner was pushed wide by the Cy Fair keeper, but an opportunistic Senior Abby Lumpkin (on her 18th birthday) sent a cross back into the box, where Emerson was able to score on the near post. In the final minute of the game, Sophomore Mary Paul sent another Stratford corner into the box, and Ahearn found the back of the net to end the game, with a 4-0 final score and a series sweep over Cy Fair.

Your Varsity Girls Spartan Soccer Team is back at Tully this Tuesday night against Cy Creek at 7:15 pm, and then they play at Northbrook on Friday at 7:15 pm. Come out and support the Lady Spartans as they attempt to increase their undefeated District record and add two more in the win column.