Stratford vs. Angleton High School - 01.19.24

Your Varsity Girls Soccer Team was back at home on Friday night to battle the Angleton High School Wildcats in their last match before District play starts this coming week. Stratford wasted no time and went on the attack as soon as the whistle was blown to start the match. Just two minutes into the game, Junior Mary Paul dribbled up the left side and found Sophomore Sydney Valentine on the run. Valentine would dribble through two defenders and send a shot to the right post to put the Spartans up 1-0. Just one minute later, Paul would again find another Spartan on the run and this time it was Junior Allison Goodwin. The Wildcats' defense had no chance against Goodwin’s speed, as she easily outran the back line to receive the pass in stride up the right side. Goodwin would hold the ball just long enough to get the goalie to commit to the short side, making a shot to the left post uncontested – increasing the lead to 2-0 in the opening minutes. In the 5th minute, off of a Wildcat goal kick, Junior Ryann Weber dribbled up the middle of the field, drew the defense in and made a nice touch pass to Goodwin sprinting up the left sideline. Goodwin would spot Valentine on the far post and floated a perfect pass to her,  where Valentine lined up the pass and put a perfect header in the back of the net for her second goal of the night and the third for the green and white. At the 9-minute mark, it was Goodwin again up the right side outrunning the defense – but this time, even being one-on-one with the goalie, she unselfishly laid the ball off at the last moment to Paul, who fired (right-footed) in the top left corner to put SHS up 4-0. Even at that point the Spartans weren’t done – in the 12th minute, Weber dribbled up and through three different defenders and fired to the right post, leaving the goalie helpless and increasing the lead to 5-0. At this point of the game, it was clear that AHS was very outmatched and the Spartans played down one (10 v. 11) for the remainder of the half and the match.

Even playing down one, the Spartans still controlled every aspect of the game. Twenty minutes into the second half, at the 60-minute mark, Valentine was fouled just outside of the penalty box on the left side. Sophomore Sara Benton took the penalty shot and everyone in the stands knew it was good before it sailed into the top right corner of the goal from distance to bring the match to 6-0. In the 70th minute, Goodwin made a run up the right side and played a great pass to Valentine in front of the goal, who then made one quick move and fired a shot off the inside of the left post for her third goal of the night and first Hat Trick as a Spartan, pushing the score to 7-0 … way to go Syd! As the game was wrapping up, Weber would take a long shot from distance that bounced through the goalie’s gloves to add one more before the final whistle closed out the game, 8-0.

While not the most competitive match, SHS was able to wrap up non-District play with a W and a big boost of confidence going into next week where they will face a tough Cy Fair High School team on Tuesday, January 23rd at 7:15 pm (at CFHS) and then they will be back home on Friday, January 26th at 7:15 pm versus Cy Creek High School.

Finally - this summary wouldn’t be complete without recognizing another incredible moment from Friday night’s game. With this victory, Coach Walters eclipses 400 wins – an amazing feat – congrats, coach!