Friday, March 28, 1997

Cougars play first game on artificial turf

By MARK WILSON

Staff Writer

BEDFORD - The Cooper girls soccer team is about to tread on new ground - while stepping on artificial turf for the first time this season.

The Lady Cougars are in the Region I-5A tournament for the first time - as the first girls team from District 7-5A to make it that far in the playoffs. They also will be playing on artificial turf for the first time this season, at Pennington Field.

District 7-5A runner-up Cooper, which is in the playoffs for the seventh year in a row, will face District 14-5A champion Arlington Martin. The winner will take on either Duncanville (20-2) or El Paso Franklin (23-0), the teams paired in the 1 p.m. semifinal at Pennington Field. The Region I-5A championship game will be at noon Saturday at the same site.

The four regional champions will compete in the state tournament April 4-5 at the high school field in Pflugerville.

Cooper thumped El Paso Irvin 6-1 Tuesday in Odessa in the regional quarterfinals, getting three goals from senior forward Stacy Metcalf.

Midland High, which defeated Cooper twice in district play, was eliminated by Franklin Tuesday, 2-1 in overtime. Cooper's only other loss was to Keller in the championship game of the Arlington tournament.

Metcalf has been sensational in the three playoff games, with five goals and two assists. But the core of Cooper's team is a strong group of juniors - forward Carolyn Poynor, who led the Lady Cougars in district with six goals and 14 points, along with Cricket Holt, Emily Batko, Laura Berg, Stacy McNeil, Leanne Fenter, Amanda Butz and goal keeper Catherine Weir.

All but Weir have been on the varsity since their freshman year, along with injured junior Candy Carter, who had knee surgery Tuesday.

"The juniors are the nucleus of this team," Cooper coach Claudia Blea said. "They look to Stacy for leadership, and they take the sophomores under their wing. That's the chemistry that has really worked for us this season. The maturity level is there, as far as being leaders themselves."

Since joining the team after basketball season, Weir recorded four shutouts as the starting goal keeper in seven district games.

Cooper lost four key seniors last season after losing in the regional quarterfinals to El Paso Franklin in an overtime shootout.

"I've talked about the four seniors that graduated, and filling some big shoes, and the juniors have definitely stepped in and filled those shoes," Blea said.

The Lady Cougars last played on turf a year ago, but Blea doesn't expect it to be a problem. A more important factor could be that, as one of the final 16 teams still alive, the Lady Cougars are peaking at the right time, according to their coach.

"I'm very proud of them," Blea said. "Seeing these kids do it has been a thrill. Hopefully, we'll have more fun this weekend, and next weekend.

"The players have good attitudes and great personalities, and I know they have the will to win - and their hard work is paying off."

Against Martin, which is led by sophomore Heather Ragsdale (21 goals) the key could be in the middle.

"If we can take the game away from them in the middle, we'll have a grasp on their offensive attack," Blea said. "The middle is their strength. Their keeper is not as strong as what we've faced in some games."

Blea said that the Lady Cougars have shown great endurance in their postseason run. She has also been pleased with how the players have absorbed scouting reports provided by coaches Eric Bengs, Joel Bundick and Stan Levrets.

Blea isn't surprised to see her team make it this far, unlike some outsiders.

"I think a lot of people didn't think we'd go as far as we have," she said. "I think they thought we'd have a lot of trouble in district because we had lost those players.

"I'm not surprised at all. We were a little flat in the middle of the season. If they were saving the way they're playing for this time, I'll take that."

Blea said the key to staying alive is maintaining the same level of play.

"It's showtime. We've got to perform now," she said. "You've made it this far. You've got to show why you're here."

Cooper vs. Arlington Martin

-- What: Region I-5A girls soccer tournament semifinals

-- Where: Pennington Field, Bedford

-- When: 3 p.m.

-- Records: Cooper 18-3, Arlington Martin 18-3-2