HS Girls Soccer: Undefeated Run Reaches Its Peak for the Unmatched Highlanders

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands Highlanders completed their undefeated run through 13-6A by handing the visiting Oak Ridge War Eagles a 4-1 loss in the final district matchup of the year for both teams.

Oak Ridge’s 1-2 defeat at the hands of The Woodlands severely handicapped the team’s potential for a district title. The unbeaten Highlanders were a tough act to chase and an impossible team to knock off their pedestal, but a late-season win may salvage some of the team’s trying efforts.

In an exclusive interview with The Woodlands Online Sports, Highlander Head Coach Claire Eiteljorge discussed the team’s continued success and how surprisingly little the winning streak affected the team.

“This team runs really well with routine and consistency,” explained Eiteljorge. “We do things the same every week and every gameday.”

Even the perspective of the players hit similar notes, with Captain Ellery Rice explaining how the team has trusted one another during this undaunted run.

“We’re very close in the sense that there’s not really seniority,” said Rice. “Everyone kind of builds one another up. We don’t really think of each other as better than one another based on greater age. It helps the team merge as one.”

The high-stakes matchup started with methodical play from both sides, as they felt one another out for weaknesses in the opening minutes.

The unshakable Highlanders’ defensive play kept the War Eagle attackers at bay for a few minutes. But, a missed opportunity on back-to-back Woodlands set pieces presented Oak Ridge with an early open.

Blistering speed down the right-wing saw Mia Garza sprint through the midfield and past the last line of Highlander defenders. Even a last-ditch attempt at a save from the typically lock-down Highlander keepers could not keep the ball out of the net.

Garza’s 4th-minute goal was an early spark for a team looking to end perfection at the last minute and one of the earliest conceded goals all year was a promising sign for the “underdogs”.

“At no point did the girls panic,” said Eiteljorge following the early goal. “They never yell at each other and they don’t bicker. Unfortunately, there was an injury at one point and they used that moment to get together and talk about what needs to be done better.”

The Woodlands responded to their opening concession by ramping up the pressure on their attacks.

Through-balls pressed the attack into the teeth of the Oak Ridge defense by surpassing the need for tactful passing in the midfield. The lobs were only somewhat accurate, but a relentless Highlander attack threatened to tie the game with one good break.

Eleven minutes passed before the Woodlands were rewarded for their approach by another set piece following a counter. Oak Ridge tried to load the box ahead of a Highlander throw-in, but an immaculate toss from Sailor Hall set up a header for Carolina Krosnyak to nestle into the back of the net.

“I love the way the team responded,” said Eiteljorge. “Everyone had that great attitude and mindset of not being worried about the situation. No one panicked, and I’m just really proud of the composure they had.”

25 minutes of play remained in the first half with the freshly tied teams. Another grit-and-grind affair followed that reestablished the methodical play of the early minutes.

Intentional passing, purposeful tackles, and a heightened focus on communication refocused the opponents as they produced a more defensive remainder of the first.

Each attempt to break through the back line of defense was mercilessly swarmed by pursuing backs that frequently poked the ball out of play or away from possession. What few breakthroughs the Highlanders did get were snuffed out by Oak Ridge’s Yaritza Jasso.

The War Eagles needed support from their backup keeper after their starter went down trying to make a play on the ball. The sudden change did not rattle the replacement, as shown by the multiple saves that kept the Highlanders from turning the tie into a momentum-changer.

But as the minutes ticked by, the withering amounts of shots on goal from the Highlanders wore on the War Eagle keeper enough to ensure one would slip through the crack.

A great run down the left side of The Woodlands formation maneuvered past the War Eagle defenders with the threat of a lead-changing goal. The threat became a reality due to a pass toward Maggie Franek that snuck past the likely tired Oak Ridge keeper.

One last crack at goal tried to increase The Woodlands’ lead before the end of the first half, but they would have to settle for a 2-1 advantage going into the break.

Oak Ridge’s expected, ramped-up play to open the second half created some early attempts to break past The Woodlands’ defense. However, similar to the effort that ended the first half, the Highlander midfield and back-line kept their assignments ahead of them, limiting any openings.

The aggressive stance from Oak Ridge presented the Highlanders with looks at counters that could have provided insurance goals. Luckily for Oak Ridge, their defense and goalkeeping did just enough to force the looks away.

12 minutes passed before The Woodlands finally broke the lengthy stalemate with an insurance goal that worked to the team’s opportunities.

Few War Eagle defenders along the back line led to The Woodlands working the ball forward for a counter that caught the defense flatfooted at an inopportune time.

The War Eagles did force a poke out of bounds, but a lack of coverage on The Woodlands’ Reagan Mermis in the open field caused a back-breaking Highlander boot to get past Jasso’s arms for a 3-1 lead.

Multiple plug-and-play substitutes had impacts during this stretch of play, with the shared mindset of more goals pushing them to keep performing.

“I think it really boils down to all of us being hungry for it,” said Rice on the team’s tenacity. “Having the desire to play, even when you’re maybe not a starter or not always on, is really admirable.”

With their situation all the more desperate, Oak Ridge needed to find the formula to work the ball past the authoritative Highlander midfield with just over 20 minutes left.

Unfortunately for the visiting War Eagles, more overcommitment on the attack meant that the defense continued to be under-matched on Highlander counters.

Precision passes placed the ball precisely at the feet of the advancing Highlander forwards. The passing kept the attackers’ momentums moving toward the goal, where Franek benefitted from another speedy break to score her second goal of the half.

Substitutes from The Woodlands got critical experience for multiple players down the stretch as the closing minutes saw Oak Ridge take one last meaningful plunge toward goal.

The late War Eagle shot sailed wide right of the goal, and the last gasp of Oak Ridge’s hopeful upset was thoroughly extinguished.

The referee’s whistle signaled the end of another strong Highlander win, with the 4-1 win concluding a perfect, undefeated run through 13-6A for the Champion Highlanders.

“I’m emotional because I’m just so proud of them. I’m going to miss so many of these seniors and captions,” said Eiteljorge. “And I tried to not emphasize that to the girls. I wanted them to see this as just another game today, and the playoffs are win or go home, so there’s going to be that added stress. But, I didn’t want today to be stressful.”

With the last tests out of the way, both teams prepare to launch into the postseason.

Oak Ridge will face Eisenhower in the Bi-District Round, with the game set for Thursday the 20th. Meanwhile, The Woodlands will get an extra day of rest ahead of their Bi-District game against Aldine on Friday the 21st.

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