GIRLS SOCCER: Grand Oaks confident as it enters Class 6A

Grand Oaks was hitting its stride toward the end of its first season of varsity play.

Playing without seniors, the Grizzlies earned a result in five of their last seven matches, a stretch that came to an end with a 1-0 win at Montgomery that brought the Grand Oaks record to 9-9-1.

The road win over a playoff team right before the coronavirus halted the season was a big one, and the unexpected ending to the season changed how the team is viewing its time together as a new season approaches.

“We’re really excited about playing,” coach Amy Simpson said in a recent phone interview. “With the kids, there’s just this new appreciation. With how things ended last year — we ended on a high note, but we didn’t know it was ending. Beating Montgomery at Montgomery was such a thrilling victory for that group. Now, not knowing if it could happen again like that, they take the field every day and just appreciate it.”

Grand Oaks made the expected jump to Class 6A with realignment and will compete against College Park, Conroe, Oak Ridge, The Woodlands and Willis in District 13-6A.

Simpson, who began her coaching career at Oak Ridge in 1999, says preseason action will be a key before entering a tense 10-match fight for the four playoff spots.

“Now it’s 6A and it’s a small district and every game is going to matter,” she said. “I’m just glad that we are going to get, knock on wood, a preseason and tournaments. When you get that many games in a short amount of time, that really just tests your team right from the jump. We’re fortunate that we get that.”

While in-person training was scarce over the summer, the Grizzlies had the advantage of bringing back a full roster, and then some, with the addition of development academy players who are now allowed to play at the high school level following the shut down of the program.

Simpson, who is in her 22nd year of coaching, says she’s had her top team more or less decided since October and the gelling process is going well.

Two key players, sophomores Lauren Moylan and Reese Rupe, will be with the soccer team full-time this year after doubling up sports last season and playing basketball.

“You can just see their game has really stepped up, but also their leadership,” Simpson said of the duo. “They’re not shy freshmen anymore, not that Reese was ever a shy freshman. Part of it was last year was they were coming from basketball and weren’t necessarily comfortable being vocal. They’re definitely leaders on the field.”

Rupe, The Courier’s and District 20-5A’s Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, remains in her center midfield position. She’s joined by a talented freshman in Jorja Bragg.

“The two of them in the middle are pretty impressive,” Simpson said. “To watch the two of them battle and go at each other in practice is quite fun. They challenge each other, and Jorja’s not afraid of Reese, that’s for sure.”

Simpson hopes the outside midfield positions can be a stronger spot this season with junior Maddie Lacombe and senior Chloe Covarrubio, who is the program’s first college commit with her pledge to Oklahoma Wesleyan.

Moylan, a midfielder last season, moves to her natural spot on the backline this year. She’s joined by a development academy in freshman Monica Sitachitta, sophomore Nicoline Vesey and junior Gisellie Francis.

“Gisellie Francis has really stepped up,” Simpson said. “Over the offseason, she worked so hard at her game. I’ve been super impressed with Gisellie, just her commitment to getting better.”

The backline will be in front of a talented keeper, no matter who’s between the pipes. All-Region senior Amber Morgan returns with junior Lily Christiansen, and the two of them will battle for playing time with Sophia Dean, another development academy player who earned high praise from Simpson.

“(Dean) adds a different element into the goal and has challenged our other goalkeepers to step it up,” the coach said. “We’ve got depth in goal with all three of them. Sophia is probably one of the best goalkeepers I’ve coached in the 22 years been doing this.”

Up top, Simpson hopes the group of freshman Ashley Aguilera, sophomores Natalie Bruschke and Veronica Patel, and junior Rylee Freidrich can provide offensive sparks.

“I think we finally have some firepower up top,” Simpson said. “One of the things this year is we’ve just got some players that can play in multiple positions. We have more depth and some kids we can switch around and just give us different looks at different times.”

jmaskulinski@hcnonline.com