Texas HS Girls Teams to Watch: Stratford

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 it to the UIL State Tournament in April.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stratford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spartans from Houston dominated District 17 in the last two seasons and made a deep playoff run last season, falling only to Ridge Point in the Regional Final to cap off a campaign of 20 wins, five losses and three ties. Stratford lost some important seniors to graduation, such as defender Ellie Stephenson, midfielder Kristin Geczik and forward Lauren Ahearn, but have an exciting group of young players ready to step up and take bigger roles with the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/StratfordGSoc/status/1735834830603256019?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/StratfordGSoc/status/1735834830603256019?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Hannah Ryan","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Stratford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Albion Hurricanes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A junior, Ryan will have a big role leading Stratford's backline this season following the departure of some seniors. She's a center back with good resources, who reads the game well and is solid at holding her position and keeping attackers away from the penalty box. Ryan protects the space behind her very well and is good at making anticipations. She's also clean in possession and connects good passes with the midfielders.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658995baefddb"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lizzie Emerson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Stratford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Albion Hurricanes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Emerson is a big part of Stratford's spine, playing a key role for the Spartans from her defensive midfielder role. She plays with a lot of energy and does an excellent job in terms of shielding the backline and stopping opposing offensive plays through the central area of the field. Emerson is also very skilled on the ball and, because of that, is heavily involved in the team's buildup. The midfielder also consistently contributes to the team's goal-scoring efforts with long-distance shots and headers.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658995baefe74"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11604182/63e32dcebee177052cc3c664' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658995baefeb7"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["155725"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Expected to have a bigger role with the Spartans this season, Benton should form a strong duo in midfield with Emerson. She's very active defensively and is very aggressive with her tackles, helping the team dominate midfield. Benton operates well in tight spaces, protecting the ball very well and making turns to beat pressure and create space. Her passing is also very precise and she's able to maintain a strong rhythm of play from start to finish.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658995baeff0e"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/sara57318/status/1734634055214272648?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/sara57318/status/1734634055214272648?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Mary Paul","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Stratford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Albion Hurricanes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"'MC' Paul is Stratford's most creative player and their main hub for offensive action. The left-footed central midfielder is very dangerous on the attacking half because of her fantastic vision and her impressive ability to connect difficult passes. Paul is very dynamic and moves well off the ball, always looking for pockets of space to make plays - she is excellent at connecting quick passes and also finishes very well from distance. The midfielder also works hard on the defense side of the ball, dropping back and helping her team regain possession.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658995baeff9e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17204241/657755f8478d700570a6dbcc' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658995baeffbe"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["108733"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A winger with great pace and excellent movement, Goodwin is a constant offensive threat for the Spartans. She typically plays on the right and is very good at beating defenders off the dribble and creating chances, especially when in space. Goodwin is very direct, giving defenders no time to gameplan against her, and displays good variation, taking the ball to wider positions or bringing it inside. She finishes well with both feet and also does a very good job of getting to the end of crosses. The winger is also very intelligent in the way she pressures opposing defenders when they have the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658995baf000e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17346594/657a2f69ff01c906e4661561' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658995baf002a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["54870"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A central midfielder with her club team Albion Hurricanes, Weber typically plays up top for the Spartans and is among the team's main goalscorers. She's not a big and physical target forward, but uses her quickness and movement off the ball extremely well inside the penalty box, often getting in position to score easy goals. Her offensive game is very complete and allows her to play in different ways as Weber is very good at dropping back and making combination plays through the middle but can also explore the space on the wings. Her strong engine also allows her to play with high intensity during entire matches.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658995baf0077"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17295200/63f9b7d817636d02747e185b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658995baf0092"} /-->