Texas HS: Forwards shine as Taylor defeat Katy 3-1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>District play is officially underway in the Texas high school soccer season, as, starting last week, teams from all over the Lone Star State began playing their regional rivals for spots in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For another season, Prep Soccer Texas will be following the action closely as it unfolds in the Houston area, attending multiple matches a week and providing the best coverage in the state, with Photo Galleries, Match Reports and Social Media posts that will help increase the exposure of teams and players in the Lone Star State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Thursday, January 22, we checked out the fourth round of matches in District 19, with the Taylor Lady Mustangs facing the Katy Lady Tigers. With huge contributions from their attacking players, Taylor triumphed 3-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Taylor vs. Katy - <a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2026/01/texas-hs-taylor-vs-katy-photos/">Photos</a></strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DT1wVAOjhjz/?img_index=1","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DT1wVAOjhjz/?img_index=1 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The home team went to the halftime break leading 1-0 after sophomore forward Lorelei Hearn got on the end of a cross by senior midfielder Alexis Martinez and sent the ball into the back of the net. The Lady Mustangs doubled their lead in the first minute of the second half after Hearn passed the ball to junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='157156' first='Camila' last='Miranda Riebeling'], who hit a beautiful shot from the left side of the box right into the upper corner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two combined again in the team's third goal, scored in the 15th minute, with Hearn shooting and Miranda Riebeling picking up the rebound to convert. Katy scored their only goal in the match in the 36th minute with freshman forward Kamrym Freeze, who got the ball from senior forward Riley Caskey and fired a low shot to beat Taylor's goalkeeper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players of the Match</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- 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":"Lorelei Hearn","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_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":"Taylor","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283243' first='Albion' last='Hurricanes FC']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6972ffd26617e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The sophomore was a key player in Taylor's victory and strong offensive performance, getting involved in all of the team's three goals. Hearn played on the left side of their attack and was consistently dangerous with her ability to push the ball forward and beat opponents off the dribble, making plays out wide and also bringing the ball inside to combine with her teammates, releasing it at the right time. She made a great run to the back post to get on the end of a cross and score the team's first goal, and had other dangerous shots, including the one that resulted in the third goal. The forward was also very determined and disciplined with her tactical duties, dropping back to help on defense and showing great energy off the ball until she was subbed off in the final minutes of the match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":348748,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0009_4d900f.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-348748" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["157156"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6972ffd266209"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The junior played as a center forward for the Lady Mustangs and was extremely active in the final third, not only finishing chances but having a central role in the team's playmaking. Miranda Riebeling looked for the ball the entire time and moved relentlessly, at times dropping to get involved in possession and on other occasions making runs behind the backline. She used her quality to beat opponents 1v1 out wide and demonstrated great vision to pass the ball and combine with her teammates in the final third. Miranda Riebeling hit a beautiful shot from the edge of the box to score the team's second goal and did well in following up on Hearn's shot and getting the ball past Katy's goalkeeper as she closed down on her in the third goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":348745,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0005_826e98.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-348745" /></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":"Dileen Ismail","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_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":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Taylor","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283243' first='Albion' last='Hurricanes FC']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6972ffd26629b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of Taylor's captains, the senior provided a great deal of intensity and quality for them in the center of the field. Playing a box-to-box midfielder role, Ismail was very active and consistently involved in her team's game both defensively and offensively. She competed a lot without the ball, covering a lot of ground and winning duels to help her team have the ball. Ismail did good work in possession, too, not spending much time on the ball and passing it efficiently and getting it to her teammates in good spots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":348777,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0088_e0ba26.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-348777" /></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":"Emma Vives","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_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":"Taylor","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6972ffd266326"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The junior was part of Taylor's backline that held Katy scoreless for 76 minutes, demonstrating great chemistry and teamwork. Vives played as a right back for them and dominated her zone, stepping up to stop plays and control opposing attackers that moved there. She was very quick and efficient with her movement, getting to the attacking half in no time to support the team's offense and dropping back even faster to settle on the backline after they lost the ball. Vives ended the match playing center forward and, even if she didn't get on the ball a lot, did a good job of keeping the intensity level high and pressing opposing defenders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":348770,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0068_0595a5.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-348770" /></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":"Riley Caskey","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_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":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Katy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283243' first='Albion' last='Hurricanes FC']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6972ffd2663ac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The senior was Katy's most dangerous player in the match, moving well to get on the ball in the final third and doing good things when she had it. Caskey was the team's center forward, but didn't hold her spot up top, dropping back and drifting wide to get on the ball and combine with her teammates, most frequently connecting with junior forward Valerie Gonzalez. She used her body very well to bounce opponents off the ball and also created space with quick body moves. Caskey showed vision to send through balls in the final third and assisted Freeze in the team's goal in one of them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":348756,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0032_24708a.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-348756" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["159756"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6972ffd2663f9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The junior spent time on both outside back spots and had a solid performance for the Lady Tigers. St. John did very well defensively, winning most of her duels and closing out the space in her zone, and, coincidentally or not, all three goals her team conceded happened either on the opposite side of the backline or when she wasn't on the field. The outside back also played well on the ball, making good moves to keep possession, connecting good passes and sending accurate crosses into the box when she stepped into the attacking half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":348780,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0092_b19ccc.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-348780" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->