The Taylor Lady Ducks varsity soccer team will open the postseason in the bidistrict round against the La Vega Pirates on Thursday, March 19, at 6 p.m. at John Glover Stadium in Academy.
Taylor enters the matchup following another strong campaign, finishing 14-7 overall and 13-3 in district play.
The Lady Ducks carry momentum into the playoffs after a 6-2 win over Manor New Tech to close the regular season.
Offensively, Taylor has been powered by sophomore forward Samantha Schroeder, who leads the team with an average of 1.2 goals per game.
Juniors Kaitlin Crane and Analisa Arredondo provide additional scoring punch, each averaging 0.8 goals per game, giving the Lady Ducks a balanced attack in the final third.
Defensively, Taylor has been just as impressive. Junior goalkeeper Nikki Rodgers has anchored the back line, allowing only 0.3 goals per game this season and consistently shutting down opposing offenses.
La Vega enters the postseason with a 14-4-2 overall record and a 9-3 mark in district play. The Pirates are led offensively by senior Cydney Campos and sophomore Avery Linstrom, who have been key contributors throughout the season.
The Pirates also boast a strong presence in goal with junior Taelor Richardson, who has recorded 112 saves and 12 shutouts this season, making her one of the top goalkeepers in the region.
With two highpowered defenses and standout goalkeepers on both sides, Thursday’s matchup has the makings of a tightly contested, low-scoring battle.
Opportunities may be limited, putting an emphasis on execution in the attacking third and minimizing mistakes on the back end as both teams look to advance.
