Blue Jays aim to continue making history

In the process, the Blue Jays made GCYSA history by being the first girls team in that age group to qualify.

Coach Greg Patterson said he is proud of his squad, particularly since this marks the first year the athletes have played together.

“I’m a little surprised,” he said of the team’s success. “I didn’t expect a team where hardly anyone knew each other would do so well. Too many ifs: Are the players going to work well together? Are they going to mesh?”

They have a regular season record of 10-0-1 and are 3-1 in the playoffs.

The Austin Crush, which beat the Blue Jays, 1-0, will be at the state tournament as well as teams from Gonzales and San Antonio.

The tie was to the North Austin Strikers, 3-3. 

The Blue Jays’ average win has been by four goals.

“They’ve only gotten scored on three times this season,” the coach said. “I have the players to do it.”

Patterson said he believes the success goes back to the team itself.

“I think it’s cause we have a good mix of girls from Marble Falls, Granite Shoals and Burnet,” he said.

The team has at least five players from Burnet.

The other factor is that five athletes have played for Patterson in the past, he said. 

“They played for me last season,” he said. “Everyone else hasn’t played together. There are a lot of girls who have experience but haven’t played together.”

The Blue Jays are led by Taylor Denton and Xochitl Mendes. Other players include Baylie Clark, Aleacia Dulin, Raeghan Eckert, Shaylynn Gardner, Peryton Goar, Kenda Heffner, Hannah McCurry, Serena Moncivais, Siobhan Patterson, Nancy Ponce, Alexis Ruiz, Amber Syzdek, Brooke Topoleski, Alix Willming and Aspen Woerner. 

They have bonded well together, Patterson said, saying the players are “the best of friends.”

The top two teams from each of the two brackets advance to play in a single-elimination tournament. 

“We’re going to give it our best shot,” the coach said.