New faces, same expectations: Calallen girls soccer maintaining district dominance
The names and faces may be different, but for the Calallen girls soccer team, the expectations have not changed.
Even facing a greater challenge from strong teams atop District 29-4A and as talented players have graduated in the last several seasons, the Wildcats have continued to find a way to dispatch every foe in front of them.
The latest was London on Tuesday at Phil Danaher Stadium. Despite the Pirates dominating possession, it was Calallen, behind a late goal from Kamrin Palmer, that rose to the occasion in a highly contested 1-0 win.
The victory kept the Wildcats unbeaten district string alive in Class 4A, stretching back to 2021.
This year's Calallen squad features eight seniors, many who filled key roles and learned from upperclassmen during the team's deep postseason runs over the last three years, including 2021's state finalist team.
"We talk about grit a lot in this program," senior Madi Genz said. "Since my freshman year, we've learned we have to play through, despite adversity. We had an amazing opponent tonight, they had heavy possession and great passing, but at the end of the day it takes a team that works through despite adversity."
Calallen improved to 6-0-1-0 in district play (W-SW-SL-L) for 20 points and 11-1-1 on the season with the win, four points clear of London with nine matches remaining.
"I've pretty much grown up in this program," Genz said. "There is a different standard here. You come out here and you are expected to play 100% effort all the time. Those were the expectations when we were underclassmen and now I think as the upperclassmen, we want to do what those graduated players did for us and push them to the maximum and come out with results like tonight."
Despite London maintaining possession and staying on the attack for much of game's 80 minutes, Calallen rarely gave Pirates attackers a clean look on frame, and the back line success allowed the Wildcats to eventually find the breakthrough.
"When you don't have possession, it takes the whole team playing together, even when they are going down the line," senior Kaylee Racine said. "Our defense worked together. We work very hard in practice. I always think if you practice 100%, it carries over to the game. That is how I've grown up playing and I try to spread that to others.
"We work hard for what we want and we get the outcome."
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Calallen coach Sarah Pipkin-Love credited the teamwork and grit her team showed, and pointed to that as the reason the Wildcats have been able to continue their high levels of success in District 29-4A.
"Go out, do your role, take care of what you need to take care of and as a team, we'll find the results we are looking for," Love said. "One thing that we have going for us here is the leadership throughout the program. That speaks volumes about our entire program and the girls that have passed through. They have watched this program and what it has become.
"The girls know what the expectation is and they want to leave a legacy."
Calallen is not only looking for its fourth consecutive district championship, but its fourth straight appearance in the regional tournament. In three seasons since moving to Class 4A, the Wildcats have advanced at least to the regional semifinals every year.
"The seniors on this team know what we want — what everyone wants — to go to state," Racine said. "It takes a lot to get there. It doesn't just take us. We have to work together as a team and fight and hopefully we get the outcome."
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Calallen girls soccer maintaining standard as district heavyweight
