Texas HS Girls Teams to Watch: Seven Lakes
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The high school soccer season is quickly approaching in the state of Texas with the first district matches set to take place in early January, when teams from all around the Lone Star State will start their attempts to make…
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Continue ReadingThe high school soccer season is quickly approaching in the state of Texas with the first district matches set to take place in early January, when teams from all around the Lone Star State will start their attempts to make it to the UIL State Tournament in April.
The Houston area has been particularly strong over the last few years and we’ll take the week to look into some teams from this region that look poised to have successful seasons.
Seven Lakes
The Spartans from Katy were the winners of District 19 with 14 victories last season and advanced a pair of rounds in the playoffs before falling in the Regional Quarterfinals. Seven Lakes will try to improve from their most recent campaign without goalkeeper Maddyson Rich, defenders Kathryn Lennon and Ally Townsend, midfielder Rebecca Romero and forward Haydan Erck, who all graduated.
Players to Watch
Valarie Trihn
Valarie Trihn
Trihn plays a key role for the Spartans, leading their backline from the central position in their back three. Because of her reading of the game and quickness, she thrives by covering her teammates and getting to the ball first, regaining possession. Trihn is also strong with her challenges and keeps the defense organized with constant communication. She’s a solid passer too, keeping things simple and connecting quick, short passes that help initiate offensive plays.
A defender with excellent technical and physical tools, Reed can play anywhere across the backline. She started this season as a left wingback and could be a very good fit for the position with her impressive athleticism and quality on the ball. Reed is strong in the air and in 1v1 plays and is very calm and confident on the ball. She’s very quick going forward and, playing on the left, can cut inside and finish with her preferred right foot. The defender is also a goal-scoring threat in set pieces with well-placed headers.
Olivia Orellana
Olivia Orellana
Capable of playing in the backline or right in front of it, Orellana has been playing as a defensive midfielder this season. In this role, she’s more active and involved in the team’s buildup, using her consistent passing and her ability to use her body to create space in possession. She’s very intelligent with her passing, often breaking pressure and identifying opportunities to speed up plays and connect with the forwards. Orellana can also help the team with goals as she’s a very good header and can finish from distance with power and precision.
Wearing Seven Lakes’ No. 10 jersey this season, Towsen is the team’s main chance-creator. She is typically deployed as an attacking midfielder, but has the freedom to move around and uses it very well to get on the ball in space. Towsen can hurt opponents by dropping back and finding room to connect long passes, but is also very dangerous from wider positions, where she attempts to beat opponents off the dribble and take the ball closer to the goal. Towsen finishes well from distance and is also very precise with her set pieces, taking penalty kicks with great efficiency and delivering accurate crosses from corner kicks and set pieces.
Chloe Callahan
Chloe Callahan
Callahan is very dangerous in the attacking half because of her movement off the ball and her diverse offensive game. She’s very good at finding spaces behind the backline, but can also drop back and play with her back to the goal, combining with the midfielders and outside backs to create chances. Callahan uses both feet well to pass and finish and is very efficient at taking the ball to the end line to make crosses or send passes into the penalty box. She also works hard off the ball, helping the team regain possession.
Anuhea Aalona
Anuhea Aalona
Because of her great engine and very complete game, Aalona can play different roles for the team. She’s very good at playing out wide, running up and down the field and using her pace and dribbling ability to create chances. When deployed as a striker, she is a real threat because of her ability to dribble in tight spaces and finish and pass with either foot and her confidence to attempt to make plays. The sophomore plays with great intensity and also works hard on the defensive side of the ball.