The girls soccer team will play its district opener against Coppell at Brian Brazil Stadium on Jan. 21 at 4:30 p.m.
Last season, the team finished with an 18-4-4 overall record and a 9-2-3 record in district play, finishing second in the district and advancing to the regional round of the playoffs. The Lady Hawks have started this season undefeated, going 4-0 in non-district play.
“We’re coming [into the season] to prove a point — to make a statement — and we did that,” forward Jordan Hill said. “That means that we’ve accepted the pressure that has come on us and we’re joyful for this pressure. It makes our journey that much harder, but it [also] makes it that much more fun.”
Hill said culture is a big emphasis for the team this season; the team has been growing closer every week. The Lady Hawks have focused on learning how each other plays in order to grow.
“No one’s above another,” Hill said. “Everybody has a voice, and everybody can talk. [The ability] to be comfortable in those situations and comfortable with each other helps our chemistry so much, because we just feel comfortable. No matter who it is, everybody picks each other up. Our culture is one of the biggest things that we have.”
Before the season was underway, the team lost seniors Layla Thompson and Tessa Arreola, both of whom graduated early to play D1 soccer at West Virginia and Texas A&M respectively.
“It’s bittersweet [losing Thompson and Arreola,]” head coach Robert Vaughn said. “That was hard, but we play for each other and it’s a next man up mentality. We do have a superstar in Jordan, but in the last game [against Mansfield,] we had five different people score. We don’t just have one superstar, we have a lot of good players playing together.”
Coppell has also started the season undefeated, only drawing one of their 10 games in non-district play. Last season, the Lady Hawks went 1-1 against Coppell and finished with the same record in district play.
“I’m believing we’re going undefeated,” forward Maya Walker said. “That’s how I go into every game: no matter who we’re playing, we’re going to win the game. We’re going to give 100%. As a family and as a team together, we should have a better outcome than last year.”
Including the Hawks five teams from the district were ranked top 15 in the state last season. The team’s goal this year is still to win the district and make it to state.
“Coppell is a very aggressive team, but they’re also very composed,” Hill said. “The matchup is pretty balanced. If we go in confident, we can dominate that game just like any other game. We’re excited to get going — we dance, get hype, do circles and [are] just excited for the whole season to start where it does count.”
