HOUSTON COUGARS vs RICE OWLS - KOKOY'S MATCH OF THE WEEK PREVIEW (Blog date August 14, 2013)

Friday Aug 16 University of Houston (#126) @ Rice University (#82) 7:00 pm

The 2013 Kokoy's Women's College Soccer Blog season is about to open with a bang, a local derby no less between the two flagship universities of the fourth largest city in the United States - the Houston Cougars versus the Rice Owls, a rivalry the magnitude of Ateneo-La Salle or Letran-San Beda (without any of the notorious interscholastic rumbles). Located just five miles from each other, both institutions have been members of the same various conferences off and on over the past half-century or so. The 2013 season sees them going separate ways again, with Rice staying in Conference USA, where they finished as regular-season runners-up last year, and U of H debuting the new American Athletic Conference. Both of their respective schedules list this as an exhibition game, but we know much is at stake when these two teams hit the pitch. Rice has had the edge in this series since the 2001 season, posting six wins, three draws and three losses in the 21st century, but every match has been tightly contested with only one decided by more than a single goal. It will be the last chance for this generation of U of H seniors to taste victory over the Owls, as they were still in high school the last time the Coogs won.

This match features the return of two stellar workhorses fighting for control in center-midfield - Quinny Truong of Rice and Houston's Kylie Cook. I expect Kylie to play her most inspired ball to lead her graduating classmates in a campaign to deny their bottom-of-the-table ranking in the newly formed AAC. This opening exhibition match will also test a rebuilt Cougar defensive line which has just one returning starter in senior Danielle Muñoz, the only upperclasswoman in the back. If Kylie relinquishes control of that center to Quinny, Danielle and goalkeeper Cami Koski will have their work cut out for them in rallying a young fresh backline against a surging Rice offense fronted by one of the most prolific striking duos in school history - sophomores Lauren Hughes and Holly Hargreaves, who combined for 19 of the Owls' 25 goals in their freshman year. On the other end, the Cougar forward rotation led by seniors Sami Sackos and Kayla Walker, along with juniors Alexis Weaver, Jasmine Martinez, who posted the team's highest goal tally last year, and Kelsey Zamora, winner of Kokoy's 12th Woman of the Year award (see my blog date Nov 27, 2012), face a tough Rice backfield anchored by six-foot team captain Hayley Williams and her fellow senior Alexandra Trenary. Including sophomore Jasmine Isokpunwu, three returning starters feature in the Owls defensive line. 

Houston's Fabiola Cirino (17) and Rice's Danielle Spriggs (19) fight for the ball at midfield in their final confrontation in Robertson Stadium last October. The Cougars and Owls collide again this Friday August 16 at Rice for another physical matchup. (Photo by Kokoy Severino)

This is guaranteed to be much more than just an "exhibition." This is a battle for bragging rights to be decided by key matchups, a perfect way to open the 2013 KWCSB season. 

http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-soccer/hou-w-soccer-body.html
http://www.riceowls.com/sports/w-soccer/ 

(Most current national rank in parentheses, by the National Collegiate Athletic Association http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer-women/d1/ncaa_womens_soccer_rpi)  

UPCOMING MATCHES OF THE WEEK:

Friday Aug 23 University of North Texas (#55) @ Texas Southern University (#312) 7:00 pm

Sunday Aug 25 University of Georgia (#94) @ U of H 1:00 pm

Friday Aug 30 Stephen F. Austin University (#31) @ U of H 7:00 pm

Sunday Sep 1 Texas Christian University (#72) @ Houston Baptist University (#205) 7:00 pm

Friday Sep 6 Southern University (#323) @ Lamar University (#161) 7:00 pm

Friday Sep 13 University of Texas at El Paso (#185) @ HBU 7:00 pm

Sunday Sep 15 Louisiana State University (#66) @ Rice 1:00 pm

Sunday Sep 15 University of Houston @ HBU 7:00 pm

Friday Sep 20 University of Louisiana at Lafayette (#238) @ U of H 5:00 pm

Friday Sep 20 Oklahoma State University (#76) @ Rice OR
                       Howard University (#310) @ TSU 7:00 pm
                       (depending on time constraints)

Sunday Sep 22 South Carolina State University (#292) @ TSU 7:00 pm

Friday Sep 27 Northwestern State University (#260) @ HBU* 7:00 pm

Sunday Sep 29 Vanderbilt University (#114) @ Texas A&M University (#15)* 1:00 pm at College Station

Thursday Oct 3 University of Cincinnati (#227) @ U of H* 7:00 pm

Friday Oct 11 TSU @ Prairie View A&M University (#303)* 7:00 pm

Sunday Oct 13 Texas Tech University (#21) @ Baylor University (#10)* 1:00 pm

Friday Oct 18 Oral Roberts University (#124) @ HBU* 5:00 pm

Friday Oct 18 Colorado College (#50) @ Rice* OR
                      Alcorn State University (#321) @ TSU* 7:00 pm
                      (depending on time constraints)

Sunday Oct 20 Mississippi Valley State University (#275) @ TSU* 1:00 pm

Thursday Oct 24 University of Central Florida (#20) @ U of H* 7:00 pm

Friday Oct 25 Grambling State University (#322) @ TSU* 7:00 pm

Sunday Oct 27 East Carolina University (#97) @ Rice* 1:00 pm

Friday Nov 1 Sam Houston State University (#233) @ HBU* 5:00 pm

Wednesday Nov 6 Conference USA Tournament Quarter-Finals @ Rice*

Friday Nov 8 Conference USA Tournament Semi-Finals @ Rice*

Sunday Nov 10 Conference USA Tournament Final @ Rice*

(Kokoy's Matches of the Week are those which I plan to attend.) 

Kokoy Severino has been coaching junior high school soccer in the public school system of the Greater Houston area for 19 years. He holds a National Youth Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, two coaching certifications from the United States Soccer Federation, and a Master in Educational Leadership degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. His research focuses on the relationship between interscholastic competitive soccer and the academic success of at-risk students. He returns regularly to his native country of the Philippines and conducts soccer training sessions for economically disadvantaged youths.

"This blog is to document the intensity, the depth, the passion, the strategic and tactical nuances, the stars, the spectacular play that I witness in the women's teams at the college level. And in doing so, it is my hope that others might be inspired to discover for themselves the beautiful game brought by the women." (Kokoy, from blog entry dated Nov 4, 2012)

U of H: QUALITY BELIES FINISH (Blog date Nov 27, 2012)

Although a clear underdog this year to their crosstown rivals Rice, the University of Houston Cougars had plenty of quality that belied their eighth place Conference USA finish. Two of my favorite defenders, Danielle Muñoz and sweeper Kaci Bush, anchored their back line. Kaci's sheer grit and tactical intelligence made her the Coogs' most solid and most consistent defender, while Danielle was highly effective in disrupting an opposing drive in the middle third of the pitch. However,  the Cougars were most vulnerable whenever Ciara Slayton would venture forward into the midfield from her left back position. Ciara did provide the Coogs an offensive spark with her speed down the line, but the defensive rotation pulled Kaci to the left and Danielle had to drop to cover the center, taking both of them out of their element. During those instances in transition when Ciara couldn't quickly get back from a deep offensive drive was when I felt Houston was most precarious, as the back line would at times be outnumbered and out of position.

While Kaci's graduation will leave a big hole to fill in the middle of the defense, center-midfielder Kylie Cook will enter her senior year looking to expand her coverage of the pitch, a strength no doubt which helped to earn her a third team All-C-USA spot. Standing at 5'10" Kylie was not only excellent in the air, but she also had no trouble bringing the ball down in a crowd, finding space with creative ball-control and producing opportunities with precise feeds to the likes of speedy forward Katelyn Rhodes, and Jasmine Martinez who led the Coogs with eight goals on the season.

Offensively, Houston is looking really good next year. With Kylie the midfield general, and Jasmine the offensive threat returning, Head Coach Chris Pfau will have a stellar senior core to work with. Surrounding them will be upcoming juniors who have made their mark with some valuable playing time - Alexis Weaver, Kayla Walker, and my candidate for 12th Woman of the Year, Kelsey Zamora coming off the bench for some game-changing minutes on top.

With two starters graduating from the back line, I am looking for second team All-C-USA keeper Cami Koski, Sami Sackos, an Academic All-Conference selection with a 3.82 grade point average in mathematical biology, and Danielle, as the seniors in the back, to step up, take charge and inspire the defense to prevent a repeat or worse of this year's -6 goal differential. This will be the key to Houston's return to the post-season. If they can do that, the Coogs are in good position to better their eighth place Conference finish.

Two stellar center-midfielders face off at Robertson Stadium - Rice's Quinney Truong (21) and U of H's Kylie Cook (2).

The Cougars' Kaci Bush (4), Danielle Muñoz (3) and Sami Sackos (11) push back the Rice Owls' Holly Hargreaves (12) and Lauren Hughes (7).

(All photos by Kokoy Severino.)

Kokoy Severino has been coaching junior high school soccer in the public school system of the Greater Houston area for 19 years. He holds a National Youth Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, two coaching certifications from the United States Soccer Federation, and a Master in Educational Leadership degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. His research focuses on the relationship between interscholastic competitive soccer and the academic success of at-risk students. He returns regularly to his native country of the Philippines and conducts soccer training sessions for economically disadvantaged youths.

"This blog is to document the intensity, the depth, the passion, the strategic and tactical nuances, the stars, the spectacular play that I witness in the women's teams at the college level. And in doing so, it is my hope that others might be inspired to discover for themselves the beautiful game brought by the women." (Kokoy, from blog entry dated Nov 4, 2012)