By Tom Halliburton
About the time this soccer supremacy starts to make a little sense, it all decides to change again.
Just like with a soccer possession, you can switch from offense to defense real quickly.
When last March ended, the Port Neches-Groves boys were probably the least likely team to enter tonight with an unbeaten record... but that's soccer.
That's probably one of several reasons that new Nederland boys boss Jason Butler is glad to be playing Don Sandell's Indians (11-0-3, 3-0) on the home turf of Bulldog Stadium tonight. Nederland (9-1-1, 3-0) is plenty good too, but Butler welcomes all the advantages he can get against PN-G.
Similar ball-possession squabbles are certain to unfold on The Reservation magic carpet at the same 7 p.m. kickoff. PN-G and Nederland have strong veteran, highly regarded girls teams with veteran coaches and a strong rivalry to boot.
Besides the sole possession of the District 38-4A soccer lead at stake at both venues, the weather figures to turn frosty cold after dark.
Of all these four outstanding teams, who would have thought PN-G's boys would be the undefeated one so far?
"Whatever the challenge has been, they have been up to it," Indians chief Sandell said. "We haven't been that much of a high-scoring team but we have been capitalizing on the opportunities we've had."
If Nederland is going to defend its home turf in the boys game, Bulldogs boss Butler is going to have to get the soccer ball past PN-G sophomore goalkeeper Micah Murdock, who has compiled nine shutouts in 14 outings.
Nederland's Butler has only six shutouts on his scoresheet but senior Tanner Adams has been very reliable in the net. The under-rated area of Butler's bunch has been his back line of seniors Miles Lawler and Austin Wyble with junior Holden Butler in the middle of them.
The Bulldogs new head coach has used a 3-5-2 alignment which has permitted only seven goals to the Dogs' 11 opponents.
"I felt after losing (2009 graduate and District MVP standout) Jordan Landry, it was time to make that move," Butler said of his 3-5-2. "We needed more attack."
Historically the girls game can be every bit as entertaining as the boys. PN-G (10-5) has the most losses of any Mid-County team. That does not mean that Aimee's girls are struggling at all, though. It just means their schedule contains opponents such as Longview, Kelly, and West Brook.
Bates had two very deadly weapons a year ago, Chloe Chiasson and Natalie Hager.
"I believe we may have three real good weapons this year," Bates said, citing the emergence of talented junior Megan Elam.
Nederland has a nice blend of young stars (such as freshman Felicia Sauceda) to go with seniors Amanda LeDoux, Lindsey Bombek and Jacie Bell.
Both teams are blessed with hustling defensive stars, too. Nederland has Lauren Washburn and Jenna Perry to help junior keeper Bianca Garza. PN-G has Brittnie Vigee and Wesli Vincent in support of senior keeper Tatum Crochet.
PN-G AT NEDERLAND BOYS
MID-COUNTY MADNESS SOCCER
When: Tonight at 7 p.m.
Where: Bulldog Stadium, Nederland
Records: PN-G (11-0-3, 3-0), Nederland (9-1-1, 3-0)
Coaches: Don Sandell of PN-G (4th season), Jason Butler of Nederland (1st season)
PN-G standouts: Greg Flores, Sr.; Micah Murdock, Soph.; Peter Zimmerman, Sr.
Ned standouts: Jordan O'Neill, Sr.; Holden Butler, Jr.; Bay Callaway, Jr.
NEDERLAND AT PN-G GIRLS
MID-COUNTY MADNESS SOCCER
When: Tonight at 7 p.m.
Where: Indian Stadium, Port Neches
Records: Nederland (8-1-1, 3-0), PN-G (10-5, 3-0)
Coaches: Julie Johnson of Nederland (19th season), Aimee Bates of PN-G (9th season)
Ned standouts: Lindsey Bombek, Sr.; Amanda LeDoux, Sr.; Layken Richard, Jr.
PN-G standouts: Chloe Chiasson, Sr.; Megan Elam, Jr.; Brittnie Vigee, Sr.
