Expectations high for Lady Falcons
By L. Scott Hainline
Chronicle correspondent
Back-to-back state tournament berths has created an even higher level of expectation for Clear Lake, but it doesn't bother the Lady Falcons.
We set the bar as high or higher for ourselves as anyone else does," Clear Lake third-year coach Andy Gaworecki said. But more than anything, we try to focus on playing the very best we can in every game and let everything else take care of itself."
After compiling a 5-1-2 non-district record, the Lady Falcons opened 24-5A play with a 9-0 blanking of Ball last week.
We try to make our early-season schedule as challenging as possibly," Gaworecki said. That's why we went to Fort Worth, so we could face some of the state's best and play teams we don't see all the time, and to the I-10 Shootout in Katy, so we could meet top teams from this area.
We had mixed results, and even though we played some good soccer, I've had a harder time settling on a starting lineup this season."
Gaworecki is able to mix and match several lineups featuring three-year starters such as senior team captains Alyssa Van Baalen, Christa Rostohar and Stefanie Miroballi, juniors Alex Arlitt, Tori Sample and Brittney Wade, and senior defenders Colleen Moloney and Kelly Patterson.
They just have an outstanding presence on the field," the coach said. That lets other players go for things because they know these veterans have their back."
Newcomers like freshmen Rachel Smith and Natalia Miroballi (Stefanie's sister) have also made strong statements.
It's going to be interesting to see how everything fits together in district," Gaworecki said. It was nice to finally play at home (against Ball) after traveling all over the place, and now we want to fine tune everything while trying to improve in every game."
Before district, the Lady Falcons fell to Cinco Ranch 2-0 in Katy, and were tied by Plano West 1-1 and Austin St. Stephens 2-2 in Fort Worth.
Clear Lake hosts Alvin Tuesday and visits Clear Brook Friday in 7 p.m. district outings.
