Target On Their Backs
Memorial girls soccer begins title defense with new-look team
Jan 23, 2019, 8:23 pm
The Mustangs are returning just four starters after graduating nine seniors. Via Vype
Originally Appeared on Vype
THE BAR'S BEEN LIFTED FOR HOUSTON MEMORIAL'S GIRLS SOCCER PROGRAM AFTER THE MUSTANGS ROLLED TO THE CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP LAST SEASON VIA A 28-0-1 CAMPAIGN.
But as they look to defend their title in 2019, the Mustangs will do so with a new batch of talent, returning just four starters after graduating nine seniors.
Not only that, but two of last season's standouts in forward Grace Collins (TCU-signee), the Texas Girls Coaches Association's Girls Soccer Player of the Year in 2018, and midfielder Maddie Dichiara (Oklahoma signee) elected not to play their senior seasons.
"It's been a phenomenal situation," Memorial coach Lindley Amarantos said. "Now we feel like we have a giant target on our back, and it's a different team this year. A new set of girls."
The Mustangs will lean on junior midfielder and University of Texas verbal commit Kelsey Hranicky, who has taken on more of a leadership role and boasts terrific technical skills that makes her hard to defend. Memorial will also look to junior midfielder Blakeley Buckingham, a first-year starter who had already notched two goals through the first three games this season.
More on Memorial Soccer here
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.