Texas HS Girls: Tompkins vs. Jordan

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>District play is almost completed in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school soccer season in Texas and teams around the Lone Star State are making a final push 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, March 19, after a week of spring break, we were in Katy, covering the District 19 match between the Tompkins Lady Falcons and the Jordan Warriors, two teams guaranteed in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/03/texas-hs-girls-tompkins-vs-jordan-photos/">Tompkins vs. Jordan - Photos</a></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing on the road, the Warriors hit first, producing a 1-0 lead with a goal by junior Hannah McCurdy. The Lady Falcons got to level the score still in the first half, with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='55783' first='Rhegan' last='Coombs'] picking up the ball inside the penalty box and firing a left-footed shot. Coombs was also involved in the game-winning goal, scored during the second half, as she assisted freshman [player_tooltip player_id='229552' first='Naomi' last='Medeiros'] in a quick transition play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1770269667824701699?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/1770269667824701699?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams kept their positions in the district standings with one more match to play, as Jordan are second (10-2-3) and Tompkins are fourth (10-4-1). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These players were among the top performers on the field:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["159935"],"_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":"The sophomore goalkeeper was pivotal in Tompkins' victory, coming up big for the team with huge saves, especially during the second half. Oelkers was always very reliable and it was easy to see the trust the team had in her during moments in which Jordan was pushing for an equalizer. The goalkeeper handled long and close-range shots extremely well and did a very good job of leaving the goal to catch or punch crosses. Oelkers was a bit unlucky in Jordan's goal, as she made a very good save in the first shot, but saw the rebound find McCurdy inside the penalty box while she was on the ground.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa5f8bb57b8"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1770261127924002875?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/1770261127924002875?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":"Ellie Castillo","_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":"5'5u0022","_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":"Tompkins","_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":"Castillo had a very good match playing on the right side of Tompkins' back three. The senior displayed great coordination with fellow center backs [player_tooltip player_id='26506' first='Audrina' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='159503' first='Hayden' last='Lasida'] as the three managed to keep Jordan's attackers away from the penalty box for most of the match. Castillo was tasked with defending Jordan's [player_tooltip player_id='26414' first='Alexandria' last='Ledbetter'], a technical and athletic winger, for a long period in the match and did well with that, using her positioning and physicality to limit her chances. The defender also contributed in possession, progressing the ball and hitting some accurate long diagonal passes.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa5f8bb5867"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":167561,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/IMG_3198.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-167561"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tompkins vs. Jordan</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":"Paula Fuentes","_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":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Tompkins","_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":"Fuentes was tireless for Tompkins in midfield and her high-energy game helped the Lady Falcons dominate the central area of the field and limit Jordan's chances there. Besides covering a lot of ground, the junior was also very successful with her defensive actions, timing her tackles well and reading the game to make interceptions. Fuentes also stepped up to cover her teammates when they were beaten, making some key defensive plays. She kept her passing simple and efficient most of the time, connecting the vast majority of her attempts and keeping her errors very low.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa5f8bb58f7"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":167564,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/IMG_3211.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-167564"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tompkins vs. Jordan</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["88962"],"_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":"Typically used as a central midfielder, Zukeran spent most of the time on the left against Jordan, operating as a wide playmaker. Although she didn't get on the ball as frequently as she usually does, the sophomore was often in spots where she could be more dangerous, facing defenders in 1v1 situations. In the first half, she used her dribbling to bring the ball inside and create space quite a few times. In the second half, with Jordan giving up more space, she was excellent at igniting transition plays and was excellent at starting the play that resulted in the game-winning goal, bringing the ball inside and finding Coombs open with an inch-perfect through ball. Her movement off the ball also created a lot of space for her teammates.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa5f8bb5950"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":167582,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/IMG_3271.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-167582"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tompkins vs. Jordan</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["55783"],"_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":"Coombs was decisive for Tompkins, scoring the team's first goal and assisting on the second. She started the match at the right wing, but couldn't face much space there and moved to the middle, where her game improved. The sophomore played underneath striker [player_tooltip player_id='229552' first='Naomi' last='Medeiros'] and made good combination plays with her, while also taking advantage of the space generated by her movement off the ball to make runs. Coombs was lethal in transition plays, making intelligent runs to explore the space and feeding her teammates with good crosses - Tompkins scored the second way in a play like this and had a couple of other chances. The forward also hit some dangerous shots from inside the penalty box.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa5f8bb59a6"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1770254536126468500","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/1770254536126468500 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["167732"],"_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":"Katz was the most consistent and efficient player in Jordan's back three. She played on the left and kept things quiet there, using her athleticism and excellent reading to win duels and disrupt plays. The sophomore was playing behind offensive-minded wingback [player_tooltip player_id='26414' first='Alexandria' last='Ledbetter'] and was excellent at covering her, understanding very well when to slide outside to cover the space and when to hold her position. Jordan's goal originated in a long free kick that Katz sent into the penalty box and she had some good offensive moments near the end, when she pushed forward to try and help the team level the score.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa5f8bb5a31"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["27028"],"_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":"Lambert's performance level oscillated a bit during the match as she had difficulties in certain moments to get away from Tompkins' strong defense in central midfield, but when she managed to get on the ball with a little bit of space, she made things happen. Very technical, the senior No. 10 used her dribbling in tight spaces to disorganize the opponents' defensive system and was at her best when she managed to connect quick passes, sending the ball to wider areas of the field. Lambert was also dangerous with long-distance shots and in set pieces, sending dangerous crosses into the penalty box.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa5f8bb5a81"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":167566,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/IMG_3213.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-167566"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tompkins vs. Jordan</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":"Hannah McCurdy","_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":"Jordan","_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":"McCurdy didn't get a lot of minutes, but managed to make an impact with the limited playing time she got. The junior came off the bench during the first half and scored the team's goal in an opportunistic way, getting on the end of a rebound. A physical and dynamic player, she occupied Tompkins' center backs and put a lot of pressure on them with and without the ball. McCurdy's presence up top also allowed the Warriors to play long in a moment of the match in which they were struggling to move the ball upfield with short passes. She returned to the final near the end of the second half, but didn't have any chances to score.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa5f8bb5b0a"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1770254065072545927","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/1770254065072545927 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->