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Early Season Attention
  
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By HOWARD RODEN
With seven starters and an additional 11 letter-winners returning from last year’s regional finalist team, The Woodlands Lady Highlanders occupy the top spot in the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches’ preseason Class 5A rankings.
The Lady Highlanders reached the Region II title game for the first time in program history, but lost in a shootout to Plano East after they rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the second half.
Second on the statewide list is Allen, a team The Woodlands defeated 3-1 in the regional semifinals.
“I was flattered, obviously,” said Woodlands coach Dina Graves of her team’s early season position. “But we know there are a lot of really good teams out there.
“Obviously our goal is to get back to regional and take that next step and reach the state tournament. But it’s going to take a lot of work to get there. We’re not going to put too much pressure on ourselves being No. 1.”
The University Interscholastic League’s soccer season begins Thursday.
The Lady Highlanders are not the only local team in the TASCO rankings. The Woodlands is third in the 5A boys’ poll behind Plano and San Antonio Churchill.
The Woodlands has reached the finals of the Region II tournament each of the past three years. The Highlanders fell to Klein 3-1 in the final last year.
“What the ranking says is that people are aware of the success we’ve had the past three years,” Woodlands coach Hans Kleinschmidt said. “But with that ranking comes a responsibility. We know that we’ll always get everyone else’s best shot.”
The Woodlands girls and boys are first in the Region II poll, followed by Klein in each category. Meanwhile, Conroe’s boys were voted fourth in the region, four spots ahead of No. 8 Lufkin.
Fourth in district last season (Lufkin was third), the Tigers welcome back eight starters and another six lettermen from a team that lost to Klein in the bi-district playoffs. Conroe also reached the playoffs in 2005 and 2007, but lost in the opening round those years as well.
“Our biggest thing this year is to get over that first hump of the playoffs,” Tigers coach Joe Rodriguez said. “The preseason ranking is nice, but we have to perform on the field.”
In compiling a 24-1-2 record last season, the Lady Highlanders were an offensive juggernaut — scoring 100 goals and allowing just 16.
Junior defender Kelsey Missimer, junior midfielder Kylie Cook and senior forward Olivia Kintigh received all-state recognition last year. Sophomore center-midfielder Hannah Stanifer, sophomore defender Natalie Kintigh and senior midfielders Kelsey Bass and Teresa Sorrentino round out of the rest of the returning starters.
“We have a lot of offense intact,” Graves said. “We’re going to be very similar with our style of play.”
With the graduation of Emma Cotner, juniors Mallory Garthwaite and Gabby Lang will see playing time in front of the goal, Graves said.
Like their female counterparts, The Woodlands boys had little trouble finding the goal last season. But of the 90 goals the Highlander scored, 84 are missing due to graduation.
That has prompting a change in philosophy, Kleinschmidt said.
“We like to think we’ll be able to wear down opponents with our defense and get them frustrated,” he said. “Our kids expect to be successful.”
Senior David Parra — a full-time starter since he was a sophomore — and sophomore Conner Mowery are the Highlanders’ two returning midfielders. Senior fullbacks Sam Newbold, Max Miller, Jordan Phillips and Parker Kink represent the heart of The Woodlands’ defense, along with senior keeper Keaton Laden.
Senior Albert Willis, junior Jorge Sucar-Marquez and senior Philip Austin — who was the leading scorer on the junior varsity last year — are among the candidates to strengthen the Highlanders’ offense.
“We’ve got to find some people,” Kleinschmidt said.
Conroe’s Rodriguez believes he possesses one of the best midfields in District 14-5A with seniors Richard Colorado, Norman Platero, Bryan Merlos, Carlos Argueta and Cornelia Cardona. The Tigers’ defense is anchored by junior Erik Perales — district newcomer of the year in 2008 — and keeper Dionicio Corona, who is in his third season in goal.
While Rodriguez’s senior-laden squad leaves little room for fresh faces, freshman defender Dylan Beaton could make a mark this season.
“We like to think we’ve got a team that can make a run for the district title,” the Conroe coach said.
TASCO Preseason State Rankings
Class 5A Girls
1. The Woodlands
2. Allen
3. Clear Lake
4. San Antonio MacArthur
5. McKinney Boyd
6. Katy Cinco Ranch
7. San Antonio Reagan
8. Deer Park
9. Klein
10. Cypress Woods
Class 5A Boys
1. Plano
2. San Antonio Churchill
3. The Woodlands
4. Katy Cinco Ranch
5. El Paso Bel Air
6. Klein
7. Brownsville Lopez
8. Klein Collins
9. Kingwood
10. Flower Mound Marcus
TASCO Preseason Regional Rankings
Region II-5A Girls
1. The Woodlands
2. Klein
3. Cypress Woods
4. Belton
5. Round Rock
6. Rowlett
7. Round Rock McNeil
8. Carrollton Creekview
9. Mesquite Horn
10. Richardson Berkner
Region II-5A Boys
1. The Woodlands
2. Klein
3. Klein Collins
4. Conroe
5. Garland Rowlett
6. Cypress Woods
7. Cedar Park
8. Lufkin
9. Garland Sachse
10. Tyler Lee
The Lady Highlanders reached the Region II title game for the first time in program history, but lost in a shootout to Plano East after they rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the second half.
Second on the statewide list is Allen, a team The Woodlands defeated 3-1 in the regional semifinals.
“I was flattered, obviously,” said Woodlands coach Dina Graves of her team’s early season position. “But we know there are a lot of really good teams out there.
“Obviously our goal is to get back to regional and take that next step and reach the state tournament. But it’s going to take a lot of work to get there. We’re not going to put too much pressure on ourselves being No. 1.”
The University Interscholastic League’s soccer season begins Thursday.
The Lady Highlanders are not the only local team in the TASCO rankings. The Woodlands is third in the 5A boys’ poll behind Plano and San Antonio Churchill.
The Woodlands has reached the finals of the Region II tournament each of the past three years. The Highlanders fell to Klein 3-1 in the final last year.
“What the ranking says is that people are aware of the success we’ve had the past three years,” Woodlands coach Hans Kleinschmidt said. “But with that ranking comes a responsibility. We know that we’ll always get everyone else’s best shot.”
The Woodlands girls and boys are first in the Region II poll, followed by Klein in each category. Meanwhile, Conroe’s boys were voted fourth in the region, four spots ahead of No. 8 Lufkin.
Fourth in district last season (Lufkin was third), the Tigers welcome back eight starters and another six lettermen from a team that lost to Klein in the bi-district playoffs. Conroe also reached the playoffs in 2005 and 2007, but lost in the opening round those years as well.
“Our biggest thing this year is to get over that first hump of the playoffs,” Tigers coach Joe Rodriguez said. “The preseason ranking is nice, but we have to perform on the field.”
In compiling a 24-1-2 record last season, the Lady Highlanders were an offensive juggernaut — scoring 100 goals and allowing just 16.
Junior defender Kelsey Missimer, junior midfielder Kylie Cook and senior forward Olivia Kintigh received all-state recognition last year. Sophomore center-midfielder Hannah Stanifer, sophomore defender Natalie Kintigh and senior midfielders Kelsey Bass and Teresa Sorrentino round out of the rest of the returning starters.
“We have a lot of offense intact,” Graves said. “We’re going to be very similar with our style of play.”
With the graduation of Emma Cotner, juniors Mallory Garthwaite and Gabby Lang will see playing time in front of the goal, Graves said.
Like their female counterparts, The Woodlands boys had little trouble finding the goal last season. But of the 90 goals the Highlander scored, 84 are missing due to graduation.
That has prompting a change in philosophy, Kleinschmidt said.
“We like to think we’ll be able to wear down opponents with our defense and get them frustrated,” he said. “Our kids expect to be successful.”
Senior David Parra — a full-time starter since he was a sophomore — and sophomore Conner Mowery are the Highlanders’ two returning midfielders. Senior fullbacks Sam Newbold, Max Miller, Jordan Phillips and Parker Kink represent the heart of The Woodlands’ defense, along with senior keeper Keaton Laden.
Senior Albert Willis, junior Jorge Sucar-Marquez and senior Philip Austin — who was the leading scorer on the junior varsity last year — are among the candidates to strengthen the Highlanders’ offense.
“We’ve got to find some people,” Kleinschmidt said.
Conroe’s Rodriguez believes he possesses one of the best midfields in District 14-5A with seniors Richard Colorado, Norman Platero, Bryan Merlos, Carlos Argueta and Cornelia Cardona. The Tigers’ defense is anchored by junior Erik Perales — district newcomer of the year in 2008 — and keeper Dionicio Corona, who is in his third season in goal.
While Rodriguez’s senior-laden squad leaves little room for fresh faces, freshman defender Dylan Beaton could make a mark this season.
“We like to think we’ve got a team that can make a run for the district title,” the Conroe coach said.
TASCO Preseason State Rankings
Class 5A Girls
1. The Woodlands
2. Allen
3. Clear Lake
4. San Antonio MacArthur
5. McKinney Boyd
6. Katy Cinco Ranch
7. San Antonio Reagan
8. Deer Park
9. Klein
10. Cypress Woods
Class 5A Boys
1. Plano
2. San Antonio Churchill
3. The Woodlands
4. Katy Cinco Ranch
5. El Paso Bel Air
6. Klein
7. Brownsville Lopez
8. Klein Collins
9. Kingwood
10. Flower Mound Marcus
TASCO Preseason Regional Rankings
Region II-5A Girls
1. The Woodlands
2. Klein
3. Cypress Woods
4. Belton
5. Round Rock
6. Rowlett
7. Round Rock McNeil
8. Carrollton Creekview
9. Mesquite Horn
10. Richardson Berkner
Region II-5A Boys
1. The Woodlands
2. Klein
3. Klein Collins
4. Conroe
5. Garland Rowlett
6. Cypress Woods
7. Cedar Park
8. Lufkin
9. Garland Sachse
10. Tyler Lee
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