Texas HS: Goalkeepers Who Proved Their Value in the I-10 Shootout

Last weekend was a busy one in the Texas High School soccer scene, with multiple tournaments taking place across the state as teams prepare for the start of district play.   Arguably the biggest of them, the I-10 Shootout was held in Katy, a Houston suburb, reuniting 72 girls' varsity teams from different parts of the state in its 20th edition, which ran from Thursday to Saturday in ten high school campuses and two Katy ISD stadiums. Prep Soccer Texas attended the tournament, covering six matches in the first two days of the event and getting to watch as many as 12 participating teams in four different brackets.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2026/01/i-10-shootout-day-1-photos/">I-10 Shootout - Day 1 Photos</a></li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2026/01/texas-hs-i-10-shootout-day-2-photos/">I-10 Shootout - Day 2 Photos</a></li> </ul>   We were able to watch some impressive performances across the two days and will now take the week to list the players who seem poised to make a big impact in their teams as the high school season enters its most important stage. We begin with the goalkeepers.    Joiner played for the Atascocita team that triumphed in the Cougar Bracket with three wins, all with clean sheets. I got to watch her in a first-round match against Friendswood in which, although her backline did a great job of protecting the penalty box and denying shots, she responded well when called to action. A freshman, Joiner showed good quality between the posts and also did well when she had to leave her spot to catch long passes behind the backline. The goalkeeper also showed calm and technical quality in possession, efficiently controlling the ball and playing passes with both feet.    <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/DTW2o7bDQO0/?img_index=1 </div></figure>    Paulk was with the Friendswood team that got one win, one tie and one loss in the Cougar Bracket. I attended their only setback in the tournament, a 3-0 first-round loss to Atascocita, and, despite the negative result, the freshman showed promising skills in goal for the Lady Mustangs. With the opponents controlling possession, Paulk was under constant pressure between the posts, and she handled it well, stopping some shots and getting to some long passes in the box. She couldn't have avoided the only goal she conceded while she was on the field in the first half, and was reliable in her actions.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0034_bdf6d9.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347711" /></figure>    Loya started in goal for the A&M Consolidated team that ranked second in the Warrior Bracket, getting one win, a tie and a loss. I got to watch her in action in a 1-1 tie with Lake Travis in the first round, which her team ended up winning in PKs, and she was very consistent and reliable in goal for them. A junior, Loya was put to work a lot in the first half and handled the pressure well, making some nice saves between the posts. The goalkeeper also showed good command of the box, doing well when she had to claim or punch crosses.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0074_73492c.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347722" /></figure>    Aguirre played for the Fort Bend Austin team that competed in the Spartan bracket. She played the first half of their consolation bracket match against Cypress Ranch and did well, sustaining the pressure and conceding only one goal. Aguirre stood out for her great positioning and strong moves for the ball, making an impressive save in a shot that she deflected to the crossbar. The senior also led the team's backline with her vocal approach, consistently communicating with her defenders.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0028_7cb78e.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347791" /></figure>    Kimmel was in goal for the Lamar team that played in the Warrior Bracket, getting a pair of losses and a win. I was there in their only victory in the tournament, a 2-0 triumph over Ridge Point in the Consolation Bracket, and the sophomore did solid work in goal to earn the clean sheet. Lamar was very solid defensively in that match, but Kimmel was there when the team needed her, coming up with nice stops. A vocal leader for the team, the goalkeeper also did very well when putting the ball back in play, finding teammates around or beyond the midfield line with long and accurate punts.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0121.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347814" /></figure>    Shah started for the Ridge Point team that was in action in the Warrior Bracket. I followed their 2-0 loss to Lamar in the Consolation Bracket and saw some positives in her game despite the setback. A junior, Shah demonstrated good spatial awareness, planning and executing well her moves inside the box to get first to long passes and crosses. She also made some good saves and wasn't to blame for either of the goals her team conceded in the match. Shah also did a good job of putting the ball back in play with her hands or feet, and was very efficient at keeping the backline organized, shouting instructions to her teammates.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0087_9bf479.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347803" /></figure>    Devaux played for the Seven Lakes team that navigated the Spartan Bracket with two wins and a loss - I got to watch her in a 2-1 loss to Stratford in the second round of the tournament. A freshman, she stood out as one of the best in the position, showing a well-polished game between the posts and a great attitude. Devaux has good size and solid technical skills, and also demonstrated good athleticism to make saves and claim or punch crosses in the box. The most impressive aspect of her game, however, was probably her very high soccer IQ, which allowed her to efficiently command the backline, keeping constant communication with her teammates and providing insightful and clear instructions to them.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0157.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347824" /></figure>    Greenway was with the Stratford team that finished second in the Spartan Bracket, earning two wins and a loss. She was in good form in their 2-1 second-round win against Seven Lakes, helping her team limit the opponent's potent offense to just one goal. The junior responded well when called to action between the posts and was always very reliable with her actions in goal. Greenway also worked well with her distribution, quickly identifying good options to put the ball back in play with short passes and throws so the team could initiate its buildup.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/01/2J4A0145.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-347818" /></figure>

Last weekend was a busy one in the Texas High School soccer scene, with multiple tournaments taking place across the state as teams prepare for the start of district play.