Texas High School Girls Team Spotlight – Ridge Point Panthers
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The high school soccer season is underway in the state of Texas and until mid-April, then the State Tournament will be held, thousands of teams will be in action all across the Lone Star State competing for a spot in…
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Continue ReadingThe high school soccer season is underway in the state of Texas and until mid-April, then the State Tournament will be held, thousands of teams will be in action all across the Lone Star State competing for a spot in the playoffs.
Prep Soccer will be following the action and constantly providing match reports on some of the most exciting duels and highlighting the players that are standing out for their teams. We’ll also be presenting some of the most promising teams that we get to watch live so you know them a little bit better.
Ridge Point Panthers
The Ridge Point Panthers from Missouri City compete in the UIL’s Division 6A – Region 3, District 20. They are one of the strongest teams in the entire state and have made it to the playoffs in all but the first season since the program was established, in 2010. The Panthers are fresh from their best-ever campaign last season, when they appeared in the State Tournament semifinals and, with several returning players, are well-positioned to make another deep run.
Players to Watch
A forward with her club team Albion Hurricanes, Mulholland has been playing as a center back for the Panthers and having great success in the position. The Baylor commit is very reliable in her defensive duties and gets several important tackles around the penalty box, partly because of her excellent positioning. Mulholland is also very good in possession, connecting great passes from the backline and helping the team circulate the ball quickly in the field. Her impressive versatility and all-around game also allow her to play a little further up, as a defensive midfielder.
Kara Canetti
Kara Canetti
Another versatile player, Canetti is originally a defender, but has been playing predominantly in the midfield for the Panthers. An Iona commit, she’s very good on the ball and dictates the team’s rhythm from her more central position, connecting good passes and making good plays. Canetti is very calm and smooth on the ball and always finds good passes, getting the team out of pressure with her smart play. She’s really effective at both circulating the ball in the middle or playing more directly and feeding the attackers.
Another talented midfielder with excellent offensive instincts, Richardson is a big part of Ridge Point’s attacking. The University of Houston commit is really dangerous around and inside the penalty box because of her complete game. Richardson is great at dribbling, passing and finishing from distance, so there’s really no good way to defend her. She’s also very aggressive and direct on the ball, giving defenders little time to get in position to try to stop her. The midfielder also has a solid frame and often wins physical plays in the center of the field.
Dayo Tennyson
Dayo Tennyson
A pacey and very technical forward, Tennyson leads Ridge Point’s offense playing as the team’s striker. She’s not the most physical player, but is very fast and moves really well in the final third, putting herself in position to get the ball in dangerous spots very often. Tennyson has good pace and is great at timing her runs to beat the backline. She’s also very calm in front of goal and can also score from distance. Her pace and dribbling ability also allow her to create chances to her teammates.
Kelley typically plays more to the left of Ridge Point’s attacking line and is very productive from there. She’s excellent on the ball and can hurt opponents in a variety of ways. Kelley is very quick and has a great dribbling ability, even when driving the ball forward at speed. She’s very creative and likes to take her chances with unexpected moves, but is also intelligent enough to understand when it’s best to pass the ball and reset a play. The forward has great vision for passes around the penalty box and uses both feet well to pass and finish.