Lake Travis Cavaliers vs. Austin High Maroons
6:15 p.m. Pregame, 6:30 First Serve
Lake Travis crew: Mike Jungblut
Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
The 2020 Texas high school boys soccer season is here, so you're probably wondering who the UIL, TAPPS and SPC teams to watch are in the Austin area. Check out today's VYPE coverage. To buy other team and individual photos from the 2020 VYPE Austin Preseason Soccer Photoshoot, click here.
We start in the state's highest classification because two area teams reached a UIL 6A regional quarterfinal in 2019. One of those was Pflugerville Hendrickson, who reached that round in Region II. The Hawks can replicate their run from a year ago because they have important talents on their 2020 roster, like Kaden Franco and Xjavier Martinez. 13-6A district foe Austin Vandegrift, a young and feisty squad, will prepare them for bigger tests.
The other regional quarterfinalist was Lake Travis, who accomplished the feat in Region IV. The Cavaliers will lean on senior Bentley Patterson to have success against rival Westlake and make another playoff appearance in 2020.
The UIL 5A classification saw five Austin area teams record at least a regional quarterfinal appearance in 2019, so a lot is expected from Central Texas programs in 2020. Cedar Park led the charge with its Region III semifinal finish and has quality players in Michael Ernand, Jacob Pell and Kameryn Roehrig to take a bigger step this spring. The Timberwolves' final win last season came against regional quarterfinalist Marble Falls, so watch for the Mustangs as well.
Pflugerville Connally adds to the depth of Region III because it's also coming off a regional quarterfinal finish. Big performances by Osbaldo Gaona and Jesus Luna can set up an even better Cougars' year in 2020.
Region IV features the Austin-area 25-5A district and the whole region of South Texas. Austin McCallum will lean on Reed Johnson and Blake Steckel in its battles with fellow 2019 regional quarterfinalist district-mate Dripping Springs to prepare for the playoff challenges beyond it.
UIL 4A saw Taylor lead the Austin area pack with its 2019 Region IV semifinal finish, but a pair of regional quarterfinalists from a year ago are also ready to strike in 2020. La Grange is the most dangerous because Hector Orona, Jose Lopez-Ocon, Diego Lopez and Luis Sanchez are back for the Leopards, but don't discount what Austin Eastside Memorial Early College brings to matches.
In the higher classifications of TAPPS, expect Nicholas Jacquin and Blake Usry to add to Regents School of Austin's legendary athletic resume.
In the league's smaller classifications, Austin San Juan Diego Catholic will make plenty of noise with key players Jayson Gorostieta, Juan Nicasio and Pedro Sanchez hitting the field.
In SPC, Austin St. Andrew's Episcopal School will be the area favorite and plans to continue its tournament appearance streak in 2020. Max Burbey, Fabio La Pietra and Jake Huggins will play important roles in the Highlanders' run at another postseason.
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Photo by Stephen Peters
LITTLE ELM - In a pair of battles featuring matchups of Top 10 teams in the area, Denton Braswell was able to hold court and sweep both visiting The Colony teams Friday night.
GIRLS RECAP
#1 Denton Braswell 58, #9 The Colony 43: Despite giving up 26 points to senior Jewel Spear, the 4-star Wake Forest commit, Braswell was able to shut down the rest of The Colony's lineup.
Braswell started the game well in the first quarter, building a 14-5 lead after one. But Braswell began to hit a lull offensively with missed shots and turnovers to allow The Colony to start chipping away at the lead.
Something that head coach Lisa Williams relied on her seniors to help pull them out of and regain control of the game.
"I rely on [those seniors] a lot, because they have the most experience," Williams said. "They have to step up and carry us through those moments, and they did that tonight."
Four of the six seniors on the team scored for Braswell, including 17 from Tiarah Sparks and 12 from Aminah Hall.
Braswell moves to 21-4 and 6-0 in 8-5A and will host Little Elm on Friday, January 24. The Colony falls 14-9 and 4-2 in district and play at Little Elm on Tuesday, January 21.
BOYS RECAP
Denton Braswell 50, #9 The Colony 43: Much like the preceding game, the boys tilt featured Braswell jumping on The Colony early only to suffer a similar lull offensively and surrender the lead going into halftime.
However, it was an unlikely hero for Braswell with huge shots that either tied or gave Braswell the lead in a couple instances in the second half thanks to Bradley Russell's five 3-pointers and a 17-point effort.
It was uplifting for the entire team, said head coach Nick Sekeres, to have a player who hadn't played in every game this year and to come in and hit almost all of his shots.
"The beauty of it, is it wasn't a surprise," Sekeres said. "[Russell's] been such a team guy for us, and it was such a tremendous moment for him."
The Colony closed the first half on a five-point run, ignited by a putback dunk by Myles Price. The Colony used that momentum to build an early lead in the third quarter, but that is where Braswell turned to Russell.
Sekeres said as he was hitting those shots, it was big for the rest of the team, "as if 10 guys hit each one." Russell's three-point stroke proved invaluable in a tight contest.
Keith Miller led The Colony with 13.
Braswell moves to 18-9 and 4-1 in 8-5A and will take on Little Elm at home on Friday, January 24. The Colony drops to 17-7 and 1-3 in district and will play at Little Elm on Tuesday, January 21.
Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
The 2020 Texas high school girls soccer season is here, so you're probably wondering who the UIL, TAPPS and SPC teams to watch are in the Austin area. Check out today's VYPE coverage. To buy other team and individual photos from the 2020 VYPE Austin Preseason Soccer Photoshoot, click here.
We start in the state's highest classification because Lake Travis is coming off a run to the 2019 UIL 6A state semifinal. You'll hear from the Cavaliers again and they can make another trip to the state final four because key players like Hannah Alexander, Carly Van Essen, Bronwyn Bates and Kendall Fain are still on the roster. Their biggest Region IV challenge will be 2019 regional semifinalist and 25-6A district foe Westlake.
If the Cavs outmatch their rival and make a return trip to the season's final weekend, they could face Austin Vandegrift or Round Rock, two UIL 13-6A teams that advanced to a Region II semifinal in 2019.
In UIL 5A, keep an eye on Dripping Springs because the Tigers marched to the classification's state semifinal round in 2019. Emma Jones and Sofia Picucci are two of the players that will guide them through Region IV and help them contend for a better finish in 2020.
Dripping Springs will battle 2019 area round finalist Austin McCallum and 2019 bi-district finisher Lockhart in UIL 25-5A district play, but will also keep an eye on 2019 Region III finalist Pflugerville and state final four host Georgetown.
UIL 4A may be the state's smallest public school soccer classification, but that doesn't take away from the talent and excitement in it. Liberty Hill led the area charge with a trip to the classification final in the 2019 season and will be in the mix for a third straight state final four appearance in 2020, but Wimberley can also act as a road block for the Panthers this spring. The Texans are out for revenge after Liberty Hill defeated them 2-0 in the 2019 UIL 4A Region IV final and 2-0 in the 2018 UIL 4A Region IV area round. If they surround Casey Crawford and Holly Harwood with the necessary support, you could see a similar outing as their 2-0 win against Liberty Hill in the 2017 UIL 4A Region IV quarterfinal set up a run to the 2020 state final four.
But, don't forget about Manor New Tech. It's classified as a UIL 3A school for most activities, but overcame odds to record a UIL 4A Region IV bi-district finish in its inaugural varsity soccer season. Expect Bailey Tisdale and Victoria Moreno to keep the Titans in contention for their first playoff win in 2020.
In TAPPS, Regents School of Austin is a team to watch in the higher classifications because it is a power in a lot of sports. Ava Ingram and Kacie Flanakin are two of the players that will add to the Knights' athletic history in 2020.
In the league's smaller classifications, the return of Ariel Nevarez makes Austin San Juan Diego Catholic a can't miss team in 2020.
In SPC, the expectation is to get both Austin members to the end of the year championship tournament like the 2019 season. St. Andrew's Episcopal School has the necessary trio in Daniela Youngberg, Georgia Northway and Sidney Marsh to surpass last year's first round appearance, and St. Stephen's Episcopal School is coming off a quarterfinal finish.
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