Texas HS Girls: Cy Ranch vs. Bridgeland

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>District play is underway in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school soccer season in Texas and for the next two months teams around the Lone Star State will be playing their closest rivals in a contest for a spot in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Soccer will be following several of the matches taking place in the Houston area and reporting on them, highlighting the Top Performers and sharing photos of the encounters. On Tuesday, January 30, we were in Cypress, following the District 16 matchup between the Cy Ranch Lady Mustangs and the Bridgeland Lady Bears.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/01/texas-hs-girls-cy-ranch-vs-bridgeland-photos/">Cy Ranch vs. Bridgeland - Photos</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a heated and very competitive match, which ended in a 2-2 tie. All four goals were scored in the first half with junior Maddy Benker converting two penalty kicks for Bridgeland and senior Hannah Carrier and junior [player_tooltip player_id='156079' first='Maija' last='Tate'] getting on the end of free kicks to score for Cy Ranch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1752527091034165400?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/grtorres/status/1752527091034165400?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These were the players who stood out in the match:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["156237"],"_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":"It was an even match, but Bridgeland probably had the best opportunities to score the game-winning goal and Crawford denied them time and time again. The sophomore goalkeeper was extremely reliable every time she was called upon, leaving the goal to deal with crosses and long passes and also working between the posts, most notably getting a stop in a close-range finish from Maddy Benker in the final minutes of the match. Crawford was only beaten from the penalty kick spot and even got a hand on the first one, but couldn't stop it. She also communicated extremely well with her defenders and helped keep things organized in the back for the Lady Mustangs.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b9d551ad1cf"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1752518029575880871?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/grtorres/status/1752518029575880871?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":"Olivia Aguilar","_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":"5'6u0022","_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":"Cy Ranch","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Albion Hurricanes FC","_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":"Aguilar played a major role in the final result, registering assists on both Cy Ranch goals by making perfect crosses on free kicks. Her set pieces were among the team's main offensive weapons and generated a few other opportunities for the hosts. Defensively, she battled Bridgeland's forward Maddy Benker alongside fellow center back Miriam Bustami and the two did a good job of keeping her away from the penalty box for most of the time. Aguilar also displayed great quality and calm on the ball, connecting good passes and helping the team build from the back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b9d551ad288"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1752509005782515752?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/grtorres/status/1752509005782515752?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["156079"],"_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":"Tate played with great energy from start to finish and helped Cy Ranch keep their intensity level high during the entire match. She played a few different positions in the attack, but spent more time on the right, from where she made some good runs and initiated combination plays. Tate was very intelligent with her movement off the ball in the free kick in which she scored the team's second goal and benefited from her excellent positioning to send the ball to the back of the net with an easy tap-in. She was also very engaged defensively, tracking back and helping the team fight for the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b9d551ad2e5"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1752510301843382600?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/grtorres/status/1752510301843382600?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":"Kate Ornelas","_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":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bridgeland","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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":"Ornelas was extremely solid on the right side of Bridgeland's backline. The senior outside back was tasked with defending Cy Ranch's pacey winger [player_tooltip player_id='54872' first='Kamrynn' last='Davis'] and had great success against her, keeping her opponent quiet for most of the match. Ornelas won the majority of the duels between the two and even when Davis managed to beat her, the Bridgeland defender was still able to keep her away from the penalty box, forcing her to take the ball to the end line. She didn't push forward very often, but was very calm in possession, hitting good passes out of the back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b9d551ad36c"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":160820,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/IMG_9993.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-160820" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cy Ranch vs. Bridgeland</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112736"],"_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":"Playing underneath striker Maddy Benker, Le was very active for the Lady Bears in their chance-creation efforts. The attacking midfielder moved well in the final third, finding the ball in good spots and making intelligent decisions when in possession. Le made good combination plays with Benker, fed the team's wide players and also beat defenders off the dribble through the middle - she attempted a couple of long-distance shots, but was blocked. The midfielder was also very active defensively, putting pressure on Cy Ranch's defenders and, on some occasions, winning the ball back in the attacking half and creating quick transition plays.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b9d551ad401"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":160804,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/IMG_9899.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-160804" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cy Ranch vs. Bridgeland</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- 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":"Maddy Benker","_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":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bridgeland","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Challenge SC","_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":"Benker played a major role for Bridgeland scoring both the team's goals, but her importance to the Lady Bears went well beyond that. She was very calm and composed on both penalty kicks, besides drawing the second one, and was also involved in much of the team's offensive plays. Benker combined well with the players around her and also dropped back to get on the ball. During the second half, she was at times a little bit isolated up top, but still managed to get on the ball and create chances with good runs and smart moves around the penalty box.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b9d551ad487"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1752514100574208085?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/grtorres/status/1752514100574208085?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->