Lady Indians’ unity a key to strong season

By Randy Sachs

Special to The Keller Citizen

With 15 seniors on the Keller girls soccer team, many may expect the Lady Indians to be contenders.

But the closeness of the squad may be the reason why the team is perched in second place in the district race at this juncture of the season.

Being just two standing points behind Carroll, Keller’s 6-1-1 district and 13-3-2 overall mark can be attributed to the core group of seniors who are leading the way and teaching those behind them.

“The senior leadership has been excellent,” said head coach Billy Griffiths. “I hate to lose this senior class, so we need to take advantage of our current opportunity.

“It’s sometimes hard to get everyone feeling good about their role,” Griffiths added. But this team’s unity has them all focused, he said.

And with the look of the underclassmen also contributing, the Lady Indians will be sound for years to come.

The 15 seniors have just done what’s been expected, said Griffiths, with several juniors putting in several minutes each game.

Six juniors have all made extensive contributions this year according to Griffiths.

Among them are juniors Courtney McKeon and goalkeeper, Kate Mason.

Mason has stepped up in place of senior Danielle Rice, who has been out with an injury.

“Kate has been in goal the whole time and has been tremendous,” Griffiths said. “I don’t know that she’s been a surprise, but it’s been great that she’s played as well as she has.”

Injuries are hopefully not the Achilles heel for Keller down the stretch.

In the tie to Northwest on Friday night, senior attacking midfielder Sarah Shaw suffered a knee injury that may keep her out several weeks.

Shaw doesn’t think the injury will slow her team or the momentum, though.

“I’m hopeful to be back by the playoffs,” Shaw said.

“This season has definitely been the best since I’ve been at Keller,” Shaw said, noting the team started the district schedule going 4-0 before the lone district loss to Carroll and the tie on Friday.

The other two losses have been to McKinney Boyd, currently ranked nationally at No. 6 or 7. Carroll is ranked as high as 15 in the country and Keller is now visible at 37th.

“We’ve played together ever since we were freshmen,” Shaw said. “Coach Griffiths said that in four years we’d be tough to beat. We knew we’d be special,” Shaw added.

“We’re only 2 points behind Carroll, so we just have to win out our games,” the senior continued. “We have a strong chance to make playoffs and we want to keep the second spot for a better seed.”

Keller is pleased to be the hunted and not the hunter, as they have been in previous seasons.

“We’ve been one of teams shooting for the fourth spot and now we’re having to keep that spot,” said Griffiths. “We’re coming at it from a different angle this year. And this one feels better,” he said.

“Both angles are very pressure packed, but I wouldn’t trade where we are now,” Griffiths emphasized, with just six district games remaining.

Keller was taking on Central Tuesday and Fossil Ridge on Friday, with another matchup with Carroll and Timber Creek still ahead.

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