The UIL Soccer Area Round provided another series of intense competitions between the finest clubs Texas has to offer.
Following some exceptional performances, which featured a myriad of nail-biters on the pitch, several Houston teams are advancing to the Regional Quarterfinals, with fans in tow.
Here are the H-Town teams (5A-Girls) primed to maintain their momentum in Round No. 3 of the UIL postseason, this Friday and Saturday.
5A Girls Soccer
*Record Format: W-L-T (Tournament games not included)
*List is ordered alphabetically
A&M Consolidated Tigers
2022-23 Regular Season: 14-0-1/District 21-5A Champions (14-0)
Head Coach: Caleb Blakley
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: 7-0 Win v. Ellison
- Area Round: 0-0 (6-5 Penalty Shootout) Win v. Hendrickson
Difference-Maker: Sophomore GK Abby Rowse--Excellent performance in-goal was capped off by two clutch saves in PKs to send the Tigers to Rd. 3
Regional Quarterfinals Matchup: v. Belton
Angleton Wildcats
2022-23 Regular Season: 13-3-1/Finished 2nd in District 18-5A
Head Coach: Jennifer Briggs
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: 2-1 Win v. Crosby
- Area Round: 2-0 Win v. Milby
Difference-Maker: "After a 13 year drought of not reaching the Regional Quarterfinals game, this was a special moment for us," said Coach Briggs. "At the time, we had 6 girls out due to injury (including 4 starters), so the win against a feisty Milby team was a total team (and bench) effort."
Regional Quarterfinals Matchup: v. Barbers Hill
Barbers Hill Eagles
2022-23 Regular Season: 12-2/ Finished 2nd in District 17-5
Head Coach: Bonnie Landry
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: 3-1 Win v. Santa Fe
- Area Round: 2-2 (3-1 Penalty Shootout) Win v. Foster
Difference-Maker Senior Forward Jacie Merideth led the Eagles' attack with two goals. In addition, the goalkeeper duo of Trinity Atkinson (So.) and Kennedy Franks (Fr.), paired with center backs Jasmine Garcia (Sr.) and Aly Valdez (Jr.), provided the defensive push Barbers Hill needed to advance to the third round.
Regional Quarterfinals Matchup: v. Angleton
Friendswood Mustangs
2022-23 Regular Season: 13-3-1/District 18-5A Champions (12-0)
Head Coach: Laura Peter
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: 2-1 Win v. Goose Creek Memorial
- Area Round: 5-1 Win v. Waltrip
Difference-Maker: Senior Forward Olivia Schmidt-- The team captain had a hat trick in the Mustangs' second-round victory over Waltrip. These three goals bring Schmidt's season total to an astounding 42 (122 career total).
Regional Quarterfinals Matchup: v. Port Neches-Groves
Magnolia Bulldogs
2022-23 Regular Season: 10-3-1/Finished 2nd in District 21-5A
Head Coach: April Cleveland
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: 6-0 Win v. Waco
- Area Round: 4-1 Win v. Bastrop
Regional Quarterfinals Matchup: v. Georgetown
Port Neches-Groves Indians
2022-23 Regular Season: 12-1-1/District 17-5A Champions
Head Coach: Aimee Bates
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: 4-0 Win v. Manvel
- Area Round: 3-0 Win v. Fulshear
Difference-Maker: The PNG Defense--Coach Bates' backline has been outstanding all season, allowing a mere 13 goals against the 124 the Indians Attack has scored, which is capped off with the two consecutive shutouts to start the postseason.
Regional Quarterfinals Matchup: v. Friendswood
