The Lady Raiders soccer team is no stranger to success. The group is still just two years removed from an appearance in the state tournament, and was ranked among the top teams in Texas throughout last season before getting upset the first round of playoffs. Now, with a heavy dose of senior leadership at the helm, the Lady Raiders are looking to keep their standard of success going.
The Ladies have played well early in the season, with a 9-3-1 record as of Feb. 5. The team is currently 2-0 in district, and looking to continue the program’s domination of the district – the Lady Raiders have been crowned champions every year since the program was established. The team has relied heavily on leadership both on and off the field from a talented class of six seniors (Haley Girard, Brooke Ward, Aspen Johnson, Cherica Hooley, Hannah Snider, and Lisette Mesa). Five of those seniors were members of the 2009 state semifinalist team.
“The experience we have has a great affect on us,” senior defender Haley Girard said. “We have six strong seniors. That’s an element we lacked last year, and so far it’s made a big difference.”
Another factor playing a role in the team’s motivation is the disappointing finish to last year’s season. The team was ranked no. 1 in Texas in pre-season polls, but battled through injuries before a 1-0 loss in bi-district.
“That served as a wake-up call for us,” Girard said. “We thought we were better than we actually were. That whole situation has really pushed us to work harder and made us better.”
The team got off on the right foot during tournament play, losing just two games – one at the hands of defending 4A state champion Frisco Wakeland.
‘‘We played the defending state champs,” Girard said. “Even though we lost 2-0 we played amazingly and proved we can compete at that level again.”
The team came back into town and earned a huge win against cross-town rival Amarillo High.
“That was a great game,” Girard said. “Most of us play with girls from Amarillo High in club play, so it is a pretty big rivalry. Being able to prove on the field that we are the better team is a pretty big deal.”
Now the team is in the thick of district competition and Girard said the team is looking forward to fighting for a title and earning a no. 1 playoff seed. Girard said the team will have to rely on its strengths to win district.
“We have strong defense at midfield,” Girard said. “We do a good job of working the ball outside and then back in, and our freshman forward Lauren Piercy has really stepped up and been a huge asset.”
For the Lady Raiders, the goal is still to get back to state. Girard said with the experience on the team, that goal can be a reality.
“We have the experience of knowing what it’s like to go far, but also knowing how it feels to lose,” Girard said. “We have the heart. Everyone wants it, but we still have to take it one game at a time.”
