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District adjustment: Playoff bound Lady Broncos clinch No. 2 spot
By Richard C. White, rwhite@starlocalnews.com
It may have taken a couple of games, but the McKinney Body girls soccer team has found its footing and adjusted to its new district surroundings just fine.
"Having such quality teams in your district best prepares you for the playoffs," said Michele Estes, Boyd head coach. "You have got to play the best to be the best and that's been our motto as we fought through this district. We're better prepared now for our playoff run."
The Lady Broncos head into next week's playoffs as the No. 2 seed from District 10-5A. Boyd finished second to only Plano West, the No. 2 team in the country.
Boyd finished its regular season with a 2-0 win against cross-town rival McKinney Friday night. The Lady Broncos head into the playoffs with a 14-3-5 record on the year and a 6-2-2 mark in District 10-5A.
"The girls really stepped up," Estes said. "We had girls fill roles when others were sick or out or injured. It's been great to see this much flexibility and see the group come together and finish strong in the second half of district. And we're extremely healthy right now, which is good."
Boyd began the district season alternating between wins, losses, and ties. Due to recent district realignment, this year marked Boyd's first season back amidst the Plano ISD schools.
"We spent two years in that Garland district, so it was a bit of an adjustment for us," Estes said. "It's about truly learning to compete every game. No one was going to come out and lay down for us. Even the sixth place team in our district could win most districts in the state. Across the board, these teams are strong."
This season Boyd is led by a slew of players, as the Lady Broncos have made sure to spread the wealth around.
"You look at my goal scorers and it's spread out," Estes said. "Sophomore Sydnie Dolzine just hit double digits and I got several more girls with five or six goals each. It was a total team effort this year, rather than riding the coat tails of just one individual player. And for us to be successful, it will take all of us."
Senior goalkeeper Marleigh Essler has impressed Estes this season.
"She's been phenomenal this year," she said. "She's been our most consistent player on a team full of talented players. Week in and week out she does both the little things and makes the big saves when we need her to."
Senior midfielder and team captain Allison Coleman has also been instrumental to Boyd's success.
"Alli is a game-changer," Estes said. "And as for her work ethic, I've never seen a kid in the state who's out-worked her this year. She's come up with some clutch goals for us."
Sophomore center back Haley Jordan and senior center back Anna Scales lead Boyd's defensive attack.
"Those two have anchored the defense," Estes said. "They've been a solid, consistent presence for us all year."
Thanks to their tough district schedule, Estes believes the battled-tested Lady Broncos are poised to make a deep playoff run.
"We're really peaking," she said. "We're in a good place and we believe in what we truly are capable of accomplishing this year. We've seen the results of a really tough schedule this year."
Given the two state titles the program has won in the last five years, elite level play has quickly become the norm at Boyd. Estes expects this year's team to reach the state tournament and compete for yet another state championship.
"We will be there," she said. "We will be there to compete for that. Absolutely. These girls believe in the group. They know they can get us there."
While her players have learned how to adjust to a hard knocks district, Estes said she's learned her own valuable lessons this season.
"I've learned patience," she said. "We struggled with some inconsistency early in the year. We got into district and struggled and got a few ties. That was me learning to make the adjustments and evaluate personnel and make the right changes. Taking the time to make sure we were prepared. In this district, it's more than just watching tape."
Boyd begins its playoff run in the bi-district round with a 6 p.m. Thursday match against Dallas Sunset from Kincaide Stadium in Dallas. Sunset plays in District 9-5A.
Before Boyd begins its postseason charge, the Boyd community honored its upperclassmen during Friday's Senior Night victory. While Estes is proud of her players' on the field successes, she's equally proud of the success they've had in the classroom as they prepare for graduation.
"I'm proud of this team," she said. "It's great to honor these seniors. We have 11 girls graduating. They're my group. I had them as the JV coach and now I had them as the varsity coach. These kids have been mine for four years, so it's exciting to see them get ready to graduate."
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