TX: Portillo scores four as Lamar dominate Bellaire

District play is underway in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school soccer season in the state of Texas as teams from all over the Lone Star State have now officially started the race for spots in the playoffs.   Prep Soccer Texas will be following the battle for a place in the postseason in the Houston area, covering multiple matches every week and featuring the top performers in each of them. On Friday, February 7, we were in Houston, covering the battle between the last two undefeated teams in District 18, the Lamar Texans and the Bellaire Cardinals. With a dominant performance, the Texans triumphed 7-0.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2025/02/texas-hs-girls-lamar-vs-bellaire-photos/">Photos: Lamar vs. Bellaire</a></li> </ul>   The home team jumped ahead right in the first minutes, when junior Nahomy Portillo took a corner kick and saw the ball deflect in a Bellaire defender and get into the back of the net. Portillo would go on to score two more in the first half, bringing the ball from the left to the middle to fire a low shot and hitting a perfect free-kick shot to beat Bellaire's goalkeeper.   Portillo remained active in the second half and needed just a few minutes to score her fourth goal in the match, picking up a loose ball inside the penalty box and sending it to the back of the net. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='229580' first='Delaney' last='Perry'] was the next one to get on the scoresheet, stepping into the penalty box and getting on the end of a cross to send it home. Near the end, in similar plays, freshman [player_tooltip player_id='148468' first='Brooke' last='Mansour'] escaped on the left and shot to confirm the final score.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/BrookeMansour09?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrookeMansour09</a> scored another one before the final whistle as <a href="https://twitter.com/LamarTexWSoccer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LamarTexWSoccer</a> ended the match with a 7-0 win over <a href="https://twitter.com/bellairesoccer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bellairesoccer</a>. Photos and Match Report will drop soon at <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepSoccerTX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepSoccerTX</a>. <a href="https://t.co/wAi6T8e6sf">pic.twitter.com/wAi6T8e6sf</a>— Guilherme Torres (@grtorres) <a href="https://twitter.com/grtorres/status/1888031289971753192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2025</a></blockquote>   With the victory, the Texans remain undefeated in district play with five wins - they are yet to lose in the season, accumulating 12 victories and one tie. The Cardinals dropped to 5-1 in District 18 and have nine wins and five losses in the entire season.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2>    Portillo was easily the best player on the field, scoring four goals and playing a key role in Lamar's victory. She was a constant nightmare to Bellaire's defenders, using her endless repertoire of tricks to make plays for herself and her teammates. A Youth El Salvador international, Portillo worked very well with her back to the goal to combine with her teammates, but also created problems for her opponents with her ability to drift wide and attack the space between the defenders. Her finishing was flawless as she always came up with he right shot to find the back of the net. The junior was also excellent with her set pieces, being dangerous in each corner kick and free kick she took during the match.    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Goal <a href="https://twitter.com/LamarTexWSoccer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LamarTexWSoccer</a> ! That's a hat trick for <a href="https://twitter.com/NahomyPortill08?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NahomyPortill08</a>, who now scored off of a free kick. 3-0 <a href="https://t.co/HknjD98acv">pic.twitter.com/HknjD98acv</a>— Guilherme Torres (@grtorres) <a href="https://twitter.com/grtorres/status/1888018062747619771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2025</a></blockquote>    Mansour was a force in midfield for the Texans as basically everything the team created went through her. The left-footed freshman playmaker was unstoppable with her turns and moves in the central area of the field and consistently disorganized Bellaire's defensive system with her ability to beat defenders off the dribble. Mansour also had a tremendous passing game, orchestrating the team's offense with her excellent distribution and finding great through balls and shifts. She moved to the left near the end of the match and concluded two quick transition plays with excellent shots to score the team's last goals and record a brace.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0030.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-278787" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lamar vs. Bellaire</figcaption></figure>    Playing to the right of Mansour in Lamar's midfield, Perry was also very important in the team's dominant performance. She was very active and used her ability to win duels and dispossess opponents to help her team dominate the center area of the field. The sophomore also did excellent work in possession, connecting very efficiently with the players around her and finding the team's wide players in great spots on multiple occasions. She also had a good presence in the attacking penalty box and completed her excellent performance by scoring the team's fifth goal.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0031.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-278788" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lamar vs. Bellaire</figcaption></figure>    While Lamar's offense was certainly the team's highlight with the seven goals scored, the backline also deserves credit for producing a clean sheet against a dangerous Bellaire side. Scheet and fellow junior center back Marley Reese were impeccable, containing their opponents' attempts through the middle and only allowing shots from a very long distance. Scheet was very intelligent with her positioning and was always in good spots to make interceptions and clear long passes that aimed the space behind her back. The defender was also very calm and efficient in possession, connecting good passes and helping push the ball forward with a few runs through the middle.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0008.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-278780" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lamar vs. Bellaire</figcaption></figure>    Even though she didn't have Mansour's or Perry's offensive presence, Meisenbach was also instrumental in the team's performance, appearing as the third piece in their midfield. Playing as a defensive midfielder, she was excellent at shielding the team's backline and used her physical tools to win duels and stop plays in the center of the field. A very intense player, the sophomore also did good work with the ball, connecting the vast majority of her passes and having a good success rate in her long ball atttemps.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0052.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-278796" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lamar vs. Bellaire</figcaption></figure>    Babajanov was Bellaire's most dangerous player in the match. She was isolated up top for most of the time, but still found ways to keep the ball, beat defenders off the dribble and push it into the final third. A lefty, the Isreal Youth International couldn't beat Lamar's center backs Scheet and Reese, who had both great performances, but she made them work hard to contain her. Babajanov was involved in each of Bellaire's few productive attacking plays in the match, firing a pair of long-distance shots and taking a free kick that created problems for the Texans' defenders. She also helped the team defend, dropping back to midfield and winning possession on some occasions.    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Great service by <a href="https://twitter.com/Ahavablove?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ahavablove</a> off of a free kick but <a href="https://twitter.com/bellairesoccer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bellairesoccer</a> can't get on the end of it. <a href="https://t.co/jO5HV9ffHC">pic.twitter.com/jO5HV9ffHC</a>— Guilherme Torres (@grtorres) <a href="https://twitter.com/grtorres/status/1888016725062598818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2025</a></blockquote>    Because of Lamar's high volume, Bellaire's backline was consistently put to the test and Graham was probably who handled it better. The tight back was matched up with dangerous winger Blanca Guillen for most of the match and held her own, playing with determination and intelligence. Graham made some strong defensive plays and had a balanced duel with the players who spent time on her side of the field. The sophomore left the field in the final minutes of the match and, without her there, Bellaire conceded two late goals in plays that targeted the right side of their defense.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0061.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-278799" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lamar vs. Bellaire</figcaption></figure>

District play is underway in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school soccer season in the state of Texas as teams from all over the Lone Star State have now officially started the race for spots in the playoffs.