Freshman class, young core will be key for Southlake Carroll playoff success
When Southlake Carroll won the Class 6A girls soccer state championship in 2019, the Dragons were led by a heavy senior group that featured all-area MVP Taylor Tufts and state title game MVP Madi Drenowatz.
The Dragons had players that have since gone on to play at Texas, Texas Tech, North Texas and Baylor.
But after finishing third and fourth in district the past two seasons, the Dragons are back at the top of the pack and they’re doing it with one of the best freshman classes the Fort Worth-area has ever seen.
Kennedy Fuller, Zoe Matthews, Olivia Geller, Hannah Jordan, Parker Wilkerson and Abby Mills have the Dragons at 15-1-4 overall and District 4-6A champs.
All six freshmen start for Carroll, which also starts three sophomores, including last season’s district newcomer of the year Kenzi Tufts (11 goals, 8 assists).
The Dragons open the playoffs against Chisholm Trail at 7 p.m. Friday at Northwest ISD Stadium.
They haven’t dropped a game in two months.
“I coached a couple of them when they were 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 years old in club so we kind of knew what we had coming,” Carroll coach Matt Colvin said. “Then last year when they were in middle school, we could really see it and we knew we had a good crop coming in.
“We feel like we’re talented every year and can make a good run, but then you have this freshman class that’s special with a bunch of difference makers and there’s a lot of belief.”
The freshmen have missed seven games in January, including two tournaments due to club season.
During that stretch, Carroll posted a 3-1-3 record and had a goal differential of 14-11. They returned and the Dragons went on to win games, 6-0, 5-0, 8-1, 4-0, 6-0 and 6-1.
With everyone on the pitch, Carroll is 12-0-1 and out scoring teams 60-4.
“It’s a pretty fun group of girls,” said Matthews, a midfielder, who has eight goals. “We’re all super strong and we believe in all of us. The chemistry is super tight. We all play club together. We all hang out after practice. It’s a great group.”
Colvin said he sees similarities with this year’s team and the 2019 state title team, including on offense where the Dragons have more than enough weapons.
The Dragons went 29-1-2 that season.
“I remember watching that title game and that’s when I knew I wanted to be a Carroll Dragon,” said Fuller, a forward, who is second with 14 goals and first with 15 assists. “I was so excited to play in high school.”
Jordan, a midfielder, has six goals and eight assists.
Geller, a goal keeper, has 11 starts, nine wins and eight shutouts.
But perhaps the biggest difference maker, is this year’s senior class that has helped to keep the freshmen grounded.
“We have a great senior class that has taken the freshmen under their wings,” Colvin said. “They have showed them the culture and just how different it is compared to club soccer. It’s a big benefit for us.”
One of those seniors is Hanna Khan, who leads the team with 18 goals.
Fuller said the seniors are the biggest role models.
“If you need anyone to talk to, you go to a senior,” Fuller said. “They’re super sweet and lead us. They’re the voice of our team.”
This story was originally published March 20, 2022 at 10:41 AM.
