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