Girls soccer: Cy Creek looks beyond berth

In her 20th season as Cy Creek's coach, Kathy Fling is looking for her Lady Cougars to advance to the playoffs for the 19th consecutive year.

"In my first season in 1992, we finished third, and back then, only the top two finishers advanced," Fling said. "But we've gone every year since, and it's all because I've been blessed with so many outstanding players over the years, including this season."

The Lady Cougars were runner-ups behind district champion Cy-Fair last season, and they're among the favorites, if not the team to beat, again this year, according to 17-5A coaches.

"Coming into the season, I felt like we would be the district favorite, but after what was an uncommon 3-4 start, we have some things to work on," Fling said. "But even though we know Cy-Fair has good players returning, and they're always tough, we have six seniors starters, and a number of other talented players, and we're excited about the season and the upcoming race."

Cy Creek closes non-district action hosting Klein Oak at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, and opens 17-5A play at 7 p.m. on Feb. 4 at Cy Ridge.

The Lady Cougars are open Tuesday, Feb. 1.

Senior starters are forwards Sarah LaLanne and Ashley McFarland, defenders Lauren White and Katelyn Phillips, sweeper Christen Spikula and midfielder-forward Aubrie O'Connor.

LaLanne was the district's co-forward of the year in 2010, McFarland and White were first team all-district, O'Connor second team, and Spikula honorable mention.

"This is the most senior starters we've had in a while," Fling said. "We had five last year, but this is the most in a long time."

Rachael Swerdon, a first team all-district pick as a sophomore a year ago, is out with an injury, but expected back soon.

"She's a big key for our team at center mid, and she was out at the Katy I-10 Shootout last week (Cy Creek went 0-3 in what was believed to be the top bracket)," Fling said.

"She does a lot of things that make us better, and we'll be glad to have her back out there."

Other top juniors are forward Stephanie Vazquez and goalkeeper Katie Lehman, and sophomores in the regular lineup are forward Amanda Frederick and midfielder-defender Sarah Parrish.

Junior midfielder Kara Simmang and sophomore midfielder-forward Abby Buck have been in some starting lineups, and junior midfielder Katie Johnson is among a number of other Lady Cougars who see action.

"We have a large roster with a large number of good players," Fling said.

White has verbally committed to play at SMU and LaLanne plans to compete at McNeese State next season.

Cy Creek was ranked third behind Clear Lake and Cinco Ranch in a Texas Association of Soccer Coaches Class 5A Region III preseason poll. The rest of the top 10 included (in order) Memorial, Fort Bend Austin, Clear Brook, Seven Lakes, Katy Taylor, Cy-Fair and Deer Park.

Seven Lakes downed Kingwood 2-1 in a shootout in last year's Region III finals, and Kingwood is now in Region II. Clear Lake had won back-to-back Region III crowns in 2008 and 2009, but was knocked off 1-0 by Seven Lakes in the 2010 region semifinals.

"We're back in Region III (from Region II), and it's going to be tough with outstanding teams like Clear Lake, and a lot of the Katy schools," Fling said. "The teams that make it out of our district (17-5A) will be facing some good teams throughout the bracket."

The 3-4 start included a 3-1 finish at The Woodlands Lady Highlander Classic, and a 0-3 mark at the I-10 Shootout in a bracket with The Woodlands, McKinney Boyd, Clear Lake, San Antonio Johnson, Seven Lakes, Austin Westlake and Klein Oak.

The 3-4 start included a 3-1 finish at The Woodlands Lady Highlander Classic, and a 0-3 mark at the I-10 Shootout in a bracket with The Woodlands, McKinney Boyd, Clear Lake, San Antonio Johnson, Seven Lakes, Austin Westlake and Klein Oak.

"Those are some of the best in the state, and facing that kind of great competition will hopeful pay off down the road," Fling said. "We want to get the players knowing what kind of teams they'll face if we get into the playoffs, and that's what we saw in Katy."