Texas HS Girls Playoffs – Preview – Bridgeland vs. Mansfield
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The playoff field is getting narrower every day in the state of Texas as the UIL postseason continues to progress at full pace all around the Lone Star State. This weekend will be a huge one, with the Regional Tournaments…
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Continue ReadingThe playoff field is getting narrower every day in the state of Texas as the UIL postseason continues to progress at full pace all around the Lone Star State. This weekend will be a huge one, with the Regional Tournaments taking place and after that, four teams (one from each region) will emerge for the State Tournament.
Prep Soccer’s coverage of the high school season also continues this week and, with some exciting matches set to happen over the next few days, we’ll preview a few of them, featuring the teams and some of the top prospects involved in each duel.
Bridgeland vs. Mansfield – Region 2
Friday, April 7 – 11:00 AM – Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex (Round Rock)
The Bridgeland Lady Bears from Cypress were dominant in the regular season, snatching 13 wins and a tie to win UIL Division 6A, district 16. The Lady Bears make it to the Regional Tournament with a single upset in their 25-1-1 campaign. The team entered the season looking for its first playoff win and got three over the last two weeks, topping Tomball Memorial (4-1) in the bi-district round, Grand Oaks (1-0) in the area round and Tomball (1-0 on overtime) in the regional quarterfinals.
The Mansfield Lady Tigers from Mansfield were also district winners, ranking first place in district 12 with 12 wins, one loss and one tie – their overall season campaign is just as strong, with 20 victories, one defeat and one tie. The Lady Tigers are yet to concede in the postseason, having topped Hutto 7-0 in the bi-district round, Rockwall-Heath 1-0 in the area round and Midway 2-0 in the regional quarterfinals.
Players to Watch – Bridgeland
Elise Bienvenu
Elise Bienvenu
With 18 shutouts in 27 matches this season, Bienvenu has played a big role in Bridgeland’s historic campaign. A young, yet very mature goalkeeper, she’s extremely reliable and effective in her actions between the posts. Bienvenu has very good length but is also very agile, which helps her get to balls, and has a strongly-built technical game, which makes a difference in tough situations. There are really no major weaknesses in her game Bienvenu is good when handling long-distance shots and crosses, but is also very quick and efficient when she needs to get off her lane to make stops.
Riley Hammond
Riley Hammond
From her central midfield position, Hammond is, in a certain way, the thermometer of the Bridgeland team. She gets so involved with the game on both sides of the ball that her performance always has a huge influence in how well the Lady Bears play – and luckily for them, she’s been consistently good. Hammond is very solid defensively, using her physical tools and excellent positioning to make stops and dismantle offensive plays from opponents. When on the ball, she has a big role in the team’s pass-heavy offensive system, often dictating the tempo and determining when to circulate the ball or to play more directly.
Bridgeland’s star forward Robinson has been instrumental for the team during the entire season and that hasn’t changed in the playoffs, as she scored three of the team’s six goals and assisted in another. Her complete skill set, which includes excellent size, impressive pace and outstanding technical skills, makes of her a challenge to any defender. Robinson is typically deployed up top, but can also play on both wings and uses both feet very well to pass and finish. She also moves well off the ball and often gets into great spots to create chances for herself of her teammates.
Players to Watch – Mansfield
Erica Brelove
Erica Brelove
A center back with excellent physical tools, Brelove has a big role on Mansfield’s defensive system. Very quick and athletic, she’s really difficult to beat because she operates well inside the penalty box, clearing crosses and intercepting passes, but can also track attackers deeper in the field and win the ball with her excellent defensive skills. A Texas Women’s University commit, Brelove also helps the Lady Tigers offensively with her ability to connect long passes and to score off of headers.
Possibly Mansfield’s most creative offensive player, Boulom is a constant threat around the penalty box. Very skilled and intelligent when on the ball, she creates chances by beating defenders in 1v1 situations, but is perhaps even better when she gets to combine with her teammates and get the ball back in a good position to finish. Boulom is very quick and her movement off the ball is excellent, always finding good spots to play. She can pass and finish with both feet and likes to shoot from distance too.
Mansfield’s dynamic attacker has been on fire in the postseason, having scored four goals in three playoff matches. Byrd plays with great intensity, is very quick and intelligent with her movement up top and very calm in front of the goal. She uses both feet very well and can beat opponents with her runs off the ball or by dribbling past them. Byrd plays as an outside back for her strong club team Solar team and also has some solid defensive skills.