By Todd Hveem
Chronicle correspondent
When the New Caney Lady Eagles broke through and qualified for the Class 5A state basketball playoffs, it was more than just a boost for the girls basketball program.
It was a shot in the arm for the entire girls’ athletic program.
“I actually went up and told the girls basketball coach (James Bryant) thank you for making the playoffs,” New Caney girls soccer coach Craig Matthews said. “Winning is contagious. I think that is going to help our program become more successful.”
The Lady Eagles completed the first round of District 14-5A soccer play at 9-6 overall and 1-4 in district, but Matthews has plenty of reason for optimism over the second half of league play.
“We still think we can make a run for the playoffs (over the second half of district),” Matthews said. “We had so many injuries against College Park. Conroe was only beating us 1-0 until the final 10 minutes and we heard Lufkin’s best two players quit.
“If we can get healthy (over the final two weeks), I think we have a good shot (to earn the fourth playoff spot).”
New Caney’s only district win in the first round of conference play came over Oak Ridge.
“We play in one of the hardest districts in soccer there is,” Matthews said. “For us, being a very small school without many club players, it is hard enough to compete at full strength.”
Because of the low numbers, New Caney will drop down to Class 4A at the start of the 2010-11 season. However, almost half of the students will be moved to Porter High School.
“We could be back to square one,” Matthews said. “It is going to be pretty much a 50-50 split. But we will do the best we can.”
The Lady Eagles are paced by freshman Cassiday Hopkins, who leads the team with 16 goals and more than 10 assists.
“She can play any position we ask her to,” Matthews said. “She is equally talented with either foot.”
Sophomore Hailey Chance also has more than 10 goals on the season.
“Those two right now are the leaders of our team,” Matthews said. “We are very young, as you can imagine.”
Matthews also praised the defensive play of sweeper Andi Ford and goalie Heather Hall, who has pitched six shutouts on the season.
“This is Heather’s first year to ever play (soccer),” Matthews said. “She is a volleyball player. But she has done a great job for us.”
Hopkins only played 20 minutes and Chance only played 40 in the team’s first-round district loss to College Park.
“We had six starters who were out that game,” he said. “We think we can beat Oak Ridge and College Park (in the second round). We also should have a good shot at Conroe.”
New Caney’s team captains are seniors Genesis Cepeda and Cindy Rivera.
“Genesis has been an incredible senior,” Matthews said. “She has had to play everywhere because of injuries. She is a great captain.
“Unfortunately, Cindy is out for the year (with an injury). But that has kind of been the story of our season.”