PORT NECHES — The Port Neches-Groves Lady Indians realize they are up against a formidable opponent tonight.
It just wasn’t obvious by the way the Lady Indians (14-6-3) practiced on Wednesday.
PN-G was loose, enjoying the moment and ready to take on New Caney Porter at 7 p.m. at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown.
“It feels good knowing the slate is wiped clean and it’s a new season,” PN-G coach Aimee Bates said.
The first round of the playoffs has been very kind to the Lady Indians in recent years. PN-G has made it to the second round every year since 2005.
“The team does take pride in that,” Bates said. “It doesn’t really matter when we talk about the history of it and what last year’s team did. It is all about what this group can do.”
The Spartans enter the match with a 17-2 record. Porter has shutout 12 opponents this season and has four more wins in which the opposing team only scored one goal. PN-G has eight shutout wins this year.
“They play a 4-4-2 and a diamond in the back,” Bates said. “They have two senior middles who are their best players. They can really dish the ball out. If we can keep them out of the game, then we like our chances against them. I have compared them to Goose Creek Memorial.”
The Nederland boys team also starts its playoff push tonight. The Bulldogs (10-5-7) face C.E. King (16-2-2) about 8 p.m. at Lamar’s soccer field. The Lady Bulldogs and Lady Panthers play first at 6 p.m.
Nederland coach Torrey Gomez knows his team is up against a great team that finished first in the always-competitive District 21-5A.
District 21-5A’s four playoff teams swept District 22-5A last season.
“You don’t win games on paper,” Gomez said. “I want our kids to attack from the get-go.”
King has 10 shutout wins this season and lost only once in the district schedule, a 2-1 defeat to Humble on March 1.
“We are going to have to play our best game,” Gomez said. “I told the team to go home Wednesday and think about one thing they can do to help our team win. We know how good King is. The most important thing is we have to believe first. The best teams do not always win.”
The Port Arthur Memorial Titans are also back in the playoffs under coach Clint Hoverson.
The Titans take on Pasadena Dobie at 7 p.m. tonight at the Thomas Center in Beaumont.