Varsity vs. Cy Ranch High School @ Katy ISD's I-10 Shootout 1.9.2025
Your Varsity Girls Soccer Team traveled to Katy on Thursday to participate in the I-10 Shootout Tournament that featured 64 Varsity teams representing all four Texas UIL regions. The games were played at 10 KISD High School campuses with the eight Varsity Championship Games held at Legacy and Rhodes Stadiums on Saturday. Game one pitted your Lady Spartans against the 13th-ranked Region 2 Cy Ranch Mustangs on an afternoon that dipped into the low 40s with a wind that definitely affected play.
As bad as the weather was though, the Green and White wouldn’t let that slow them down. In the opening minute, Senior – Allison Goodwin dribbled up the right side past the remaining defenders, leaving her one-on-one with the Mustang goalie and fired into the top left corner to put SHS on the board 1-0. Five minutes later at the 6’ mark, it was Goodwin again with a shot just nearly missing its mark off the right post. That second goal wouldn’t elude Stratford very long, when just 30 seconds later, Sophomore - Audrey Brendel passed a ball up the left sideline to Junior – Sydney Valentine, who sped past the last outside back and fired a shot to increase the lead to 2-0. The Spartans continued to keep the pressure on in the first half when Goodwin played a perfect cross in front of the goal, where Senior – Mary-Charlotte Paul connected mid-air with a shot the goalie never even saw, to add a third goal to the total, 3-0. At 7’, Paul played a perfect ball up the middle to a streaking Valentine, who fired top left corner for her second goal of the game and the fourth of the match for SHS. Even with five goals through the first 15 minutes, the Lady Spartans still had plenty to show the crowd that was braving the near-freezing temperatures. At the 17’ minute mark, following a corner kick that was earned by Stratford, Junior – Sara Benton took a shot that floated to the back post where Senior – Ryann Weber was able to head the ball back to the middle, where Paul was able to kick another ball out of mid-air for her second goal to increase the lead to 5-0. The last goal of the first half came from a combo of Senior – Elizabeth Byrd placing a perfect ball in front of Sophomore – Juliana Molinas, who shot left past a diving goalie to end the first forty minutes of play with a commanding 6-0 lead.
The second half was much of the same as the first, with Stratford controlling the ball the majority of the remaining minutes with multiple shots on goal, but only one able to find its mark in the 73rd minute. It was another Benton corner kick that found its way to the middle of the box, where Junior – Avery Rushing was able to redirect the ball into the back of the net for Stratford’s seventh and final goal of the match, 7-0. While the Green and White dominated this match from the beginning to end, it is also important to point out the outstanding play by Sophomore – Addie Greenway in goal to keep a clean sheet.
The tournament continued on Friday and Saturday with matches against the Seven Lakes Spartans and the Duncanville Panthers.
Varsity vs. Seven Lakes High School @ Katy ISD’s I-10 Shootout – 1.10.2025
In the second game of the I-10 shootout, Stratford would face off against the Region 3 Champion and State Semifinalist from 2024, Seven Lakes High School. It was a cold, wet, and windy scene at Seven Lakes High School on Friday morning as the game got underway. The conditions would be a huge factor early as Stratford had to face a tough Seven Lakes team but also go against the wind in the first half. A wind-aided corner kick would be earned by Seven Lakes just two minutes into the game, and they would capitalize on it, scoring an early goal to take a 0-1 lead.
Stratford would settle into the match and find their composure, winning possession for much of the first half despite going into the 30+ mph headwind. In the 32nd minute, Senior – Allison Goodwin would find Junior – Sara Benton just outside of the Seven Lakes box. Benton didn’t hesitate and fired a shot just above the reach of the Seven Lakes keeper to tie the game at 1-1. Just a couple of minutes later, Sophomore – Juliana Molinas would turn over a Seven Lakes defender and make a strong run down the far sideline before firing on goal, but a great save by the keeper would keep the game tied going into halftime.
As the second half got underway it only took a couple of minutes before Stratford would have another great opportunity. Senior – Ryann Weber was able to weave through the Seven Lakes defense and draw multiple defenders before finding an unmarked and charging Senior – Hannah Ryan. Ryan fired on frame from just outside of the box, but the Seven Lakes goalkeeper was able to make a great save. Benton was dribbling through the midfield when she was fouled by a Seven Lakes player. Sophomore - Zoe Lawless stepped up to take the free kick from the 40 yard line. Her kick would hit the cross bar and go straight down. Several Stratford players tried to capitalize on the loose ball, but it was ultimately scooped up by the keeper. It would be Freshman – Hannah Hewitt who would step up in a big way, late in the match, with numerous defensive plays to shut down a couple of potentially dangerous plays for Seven Lakes.
Despite continuing to control the action for most of the game, Stratford had numerous opportunities but just couldn’t find that go-ahead goal. To advance a team in the tournament bracket, the game would end in penalty kicks, where Stratford would come up short. Despite falling short in PKs, the result of the game is actually recorded as a tie versus one of Houston’s top teams.
Varsity vs. Duncanville High School @ Katy ISD’s I-10 Shootout – 1.11.2025
Your Spartans would continue their extremely difficult early-season schedule with a match against Duncanville High School, currently the 2nd-ranked team out of Region 2. Playing a third game in just 48 hours is always a tough ask, but this match would be one where every Varsity soccer player would get meaningful minutes and contribute for the Spartans.
Duncanville and Stratford would spend the first 20 minutes of the match feeling each other out and sharing the possession. In the 24th minute, Sophomore – Sophia Beviacqua found her opportunity, beating a couple of Panther defenders before breaking free and scoring near-post to give Stratford a 1-0 lead. Just before the half, Duncanville would respond and find the equalizer to tie the game at the half.
In the second half, the Spartans controlled much of the action. Numerous scoring opportunities went just wide, just over, or were saved by a talented Duncanville goalkeeper. It appeared that your Spartans were destined for yet another tie, but in the final minute of the match, it would be Senior – Ryann Weber finding Senior – Allison Goodwin on the right side of the pitch. Goodwin would sprint to the end line with the ball before firing a cross over the goalkeeper to the far post where she would connect with Junior – Sydney Valentine, who sent a header into the top corner of the goal to give the Spartans a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Overall, it was a great weekend for both goalkeepers, Sophomore - Addie Greenway and Senior - Olivia Harbison, who both battled not only talented opponents but also extremely difficult weather conditions.
The Spartans will take the pitch again on Tuesday, January 14th at 7:15 pm at perennial power Ridge Point High School to close out their pre-District schedule. Come out and support these extremely talented Lady Spartans!