La Grange Soccer Teams Open the Playoffs Friday
Two years ago, the La Grange boys and girls soccer teams made school history with the program’s longest playoff runs in the sport.
The Lady Leps advanced to the second round and the Leps advanced to the third round.
Friday, nearly two years since they played their last playoff games, both La Grange teams begin the postseason with high hopes – and against very familiar foes.
The La Grange girls head to Rockdale Friday for a 7:30 p.m. game against a Navasota team they used to be district rivals with. La Grange played Navasota three times last year with two wins and a tie.
“We’ve had success against them, but we’ve also had some tight matches,” La Grange girls coach Chris Westall said. “For us it comes down to execution. We need to be able to give ourselves the opportunities and then execute and finish.”
Tuesday we caught up with several Lady Leps during their athletic practice.
They seemed excited – and confident – heading into the postseason.
“We’ve seen Navasota before and we’re confident,” said junior Kaelyn Ortiz.
“Our expectations are high. We’ve been working hard,” said junior Megan Davis.
“Being our senior year there are a lot of emotions. We’ve never made it to the third round before. That’s a goal,” said senior goalie Harper Westall.
“We’ve been together for four years. This team is like a family and we want to be an inspiration to the teams that follow us. We want to keep going as long as we can,” said senior Jolie Gutierrez.
Meanwhile, the La Grange boys will head to Rice Friday for a 7 p.m. contest against former district rival Bellville.
“It feels like more than a playoff game, it feels like a grudge match,” said La Grange boys soccer coach Willliam McGonagle. “We had some great rivalry games over the past few years against them, hearts broken on both sides.”
Back in 2019 Bellville won the district title with La Grange second, but the Leps advanced farther in the playoffs.
Last year the Leps beat Bellville at home to vault into first place in district right before the COVID shutdown
“We go way back,” said La Grange senior Jackson Bundick of the rivalry with Bellville. “There’s definitely some history there and we’re ready for it.”
McGonagle said he expects another La Grange/Bellville thriller.
“It’s going to come down to playing well on big moments,” he said. “It will come down to a big play in a big moment and we have to feel like we’re the ones that are going to come through.”
Lady Leps Tie Warmup
The La Grange girls soccer team tied Austin Eastside 3-3 in the playoff warm-up match on the road Tuesday. Shelby Hofferek, Jolie Gutierrez and Kaelyn Ortiz each scored goals and the defensive player of the game was Harper Westall.
“This was a great test for us against another very good (and ranked) team in Gateway Prep. It was back and forth the entire match and either team could have won in the final moments, which is exactly the kind of warmup match you want before the playoffs,” said La Grange girls soccer coach Chris Westall.
La Grange girls (13-5-2) vs. Navasota (11-11-1)
What: Girls 4A Soccer playoff opener
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Rockdale HS
Up next: Winner advances to play the Salado/Mexia winner in the area round.
La Grange boys (14-5-2) vs. Bellville (14-6-2)
What: Boys 4A Soccer playoff opener
When: Friday, 7 p.m. at Rice Consolidaed HS
Up next: Winner advances to play the Salado/Mexia winner in the area round.