The Nolan Catholic Women's Soccer Program hosted the nations top high school girls showcase,the National Elite Prep Showcase this past week. In 48 hours the NEPS saw cold, rain, thunder, drizzle, wind, fog and then the final day, it was a breezy, 80 degrees and sunny.
The unpredictable Texas weather didn't bother the Lady Vikings as the varsity and junior varsity went undefeated with a record of 6-0-1 outscoring opponents 16-4.
The varsity saw two South Texas powerhouses and two nationally ranked teams in #22 Westview from San Diego and #5 from Flower Mound.
The 4 games in 48 hours proved to be a grind for the Lady Vikings. "We showed we have tremendous depth in our program this weekend, " said head coach Jay Fitzgerald.
Day 1 the varsity defeated Round Rock from Austin, in an end to end 3-2 finish. Gwennie Puente scored 2 goals and Emily Keoughan scored the game-winner.
The JV is in its third year competing at the GCISD JV Invitational hosted by Grapevine High School. The JV also set the tone with a win on Day 1. A 2-0 shutout win over host Grapevine was a nice way to start the event. Goals were scored by Savanah Melch and Katie Ripple.
Conditions didn't get much better on Day 2 as the rain was steady throughout the majority of the day but at the end of the day both teams remained undefeated. While Emily Keoughan put two past Georgetown, her 2nd being the game-winner, Puente added another.
Just 4 hours later the Lady Vikings had to take the field again, against NEPS newcomer, from San Diego, CA, Westview, ranked #22 in the country.
After going down a goal early, the varsity fought back to even the score on another Gwennie Puente goal. Fitzgerald commented,"We stayed physical, stayed committed to our system, and never switched off."
The JV kicked off their 2nd game in two days against Southlake Carroll; Koryn Brookshire and Hannah Reeves made sure LVS stayed perfect on the week as they defeated the Dragons 2-0.
Following a cold Thursday and Friday, players faced near 80-degree temperatures Saturday with sun beating down on their already tired legs.
The JV completed the sweep of the GCISD Invitational on Day 3 with a dramatic 3-1 win over Keller. Marissa Baldasti got LVS on the board early in the first half but with the score even at 1 with 30 seconds to go in the match, Savanah Melch slipped a ball in behind, with Baldasti already in full stride, and it was over from there. With a 2-1 lead and in the final seconds, Kat Paul took the ball off the kick-off ran at goal and smashed it top corner just seconds before the final whistle, for a 3-1 win.
Ice bathes, pasta, Gatorade, protein shakes throughout the week....provided the varsity with the energy and fuel they needed to take down the nations #5 team, Flower Mound. Katy Hirschfeld took a ball in the center circle and slipped it through to Gwennie Puente for her 17th goal of the season and Omar Rodenbaugh scored her first varsity goal to add an insurance goal late in the game.
"We are in a very good place right now with our program. We played with a lot of grit but because we took care of the ball, we were able to have a good rhythm to things," Fitzgerald said.
The JV is idol this week.
The varsity will take on Liberty Christian at home in their fifth district game of the year tomorrow night at 6:00pm. The Allison Horn Memorial Showcase hosted by Colleyville Heritage starts on Thursday and Coppell, Lewisville, and Colleyville Heritage are in the Lady Vikings bracket.
