A combination of tactical changes, a simple source of motivation and doubts from online prognosticators led to Westlake's girls soccer team returning to the UIL state tournament.
Yeah, having good players isn't a bad thing either.
Westlake (16-4-2) will play Rockwall (21-3-2) in the Class 6A state semifinals Friday morning at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown. This will be the Chaparrals' second visit to the state in three years.
It's a little strange that this was an afterthought this season, given the Chaps have had so much success with this program and produce so much talent every year, but they missed the playoffs in a loaded District 26. That's what happened after that. 6A a year ago.
more:Six Austin-area high school soccer teams hope this week ends with a state championship.
The Chaps, whose head coach Darcy Carruthers called this season a “revenge tour,” competed hotly through the first month and found success in early February. They lost just once in their final 10 games of the regular season before climbing through a gauntlet of playoff opponents to reach state.
“Since last year, we have had the mentality that we have to prove our school and prove our success,” senior winger Margaret Burton said. “That was a motivator for us. We don't like to lose and we don't want to be seen as weak, so it's important to us that we are Westlake and that soccer is not our only sport. I want to continue to show that.”
When you make big changes, you get big results.
While it may have been easy for the Chaps to get motivated, the change in strategy also inspired the field. With Westlake having more depth in the attack, Coach Carruthers has forced the Chaps to play with five midfielders instead of four midfielders in order to focus on possession and give them more options offensively. I decided that I should.
more: Hendrickson girls lose to Colleyville Heritage in Class 5A state semifinals.
While Westlake's ability to dictate plays across the board is credited, it's also his individual emphasis on playing pressing defense anywhere on the field that creates offense from defense.
“We like to have the ball, so everyone's really aggressive and trying to get the ball back even when we don't have it,” junior forward Carter Utkoff said. “Nobody shifts the responsibility to the person behind them, and each one of them is working on trying to get the ball back.”
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Part of that defensive tenacity comes from the fact that all of the chaps value each other as players and people, leading to strong chemistry on the field.
“It means a lot to have the whole team hit it off,” junior midfielder AJ Carlson said. “We all want to work hard for each other.” “Everyone has each other’s backs.”
Westlake has been here before.
Carlson and Kate Grannis were key pieces on the state tournament team two years ago, and several other players were on varsity reserves or on the team's playoff roster. It also served as an opportunity for the senior to return to Georgetown.
“After experiencing such a wonderful environment, it helps me build up the energy to want to go again,” Grannis said.
Carruthers also touted the fact that soccer websites and social media accounts have consistently chosen against the Chaps over the past two months. She said Westlake would once again be the underdog going to the state tournament and wouldn't have it any other way.
“Keep condemning us,” she said. “As most people say, we weren't supposed to win four out of five playoff games and now we're still in state. So keep doubting us.”
UIL State Soccer Tournament
through Saturday at the Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex. Tickets: $35 for all tournaments, $15 for single games.
Wednesday: Class 4A girls semifinals — Celina 3, Lumberton 1. Boerne 2, Salado 1 (OT); Class 4A boys semifinals — Boerne 1, Kilgore 0. San Elizario 1, Navasota 0
Thursday: Class 5A girls semifinals — Colleyville Heritage 4, Hendrickson 1. Frisco Wakeland 0, Rouse 0 (3-2). Class 4A girls final — Serena vs. Boerne, second half. Class 5A Boys Semifinals — Glenn vs. Frisco Wakeland, second half.Midlothian vs. Baytown Goose Creek Memorial, 2nd half
Friday: Class 6A girls semifinal — Rockwall vs. Westlake, 9:30 a.m.; Prosper vs. Katy Seven Lakes, noon. Class 4A boys final — Boerne vs. San Elizario, 2:30 p.m. Class 6A boys semifinal — Katy Seven Lakes vs. Duncanville, 5 p.m.Vandegrift vs. Louisville Flower Mound, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday's final — Class 5A girls: Colleyville Heritage vs. Frisco Wakeland, 11 a.m.; 5th grade A boys, 1:30 p.m. 6th grade A girls, 4pm. 6th grade group A boys, 6:30 p.m.
