4A champ The Colony is the team to beat

ERIC KAYNE/DMN

Amanda Fancher (left) and Katie Dagenais return from the team that finished second in 14-4A and went on to win the state title.

Please don't tell The Colony's girls that they are good. They don't like to hear that. In fact, they love it when you don't talk about them at all. That was easy when the team entered the 2007 campaign with only six wins the previous two years.

It's difficult to ignore The Colony now after it won the Class 4A championship and went 23-3-4 in 2007.

"It's definitely a different role," said senior midfielder Amanda Fancher, who is orally committed to Virginia. "Last year, nobody knew who we were. This year, everyone wants to come out and beat us. It's good to always have an underdog's mentality. Personally, it makes me play a lot harder."

In 2007, The Colony finished second in District 14-4A behind Richardson Pearce. It would have finished third if Highland Park had not had to forfeit a district win.

Nicole Jund, The Colony's second-year coach, concedes that Pearce and Highland Park are the teams to beat again.

"We may not win them all, but that's all right," Jund said. "I hope we do something similar to what we did last year. I just hope we get better as the year goes along."

Outside of losing goalkeeper Haley Corbell, a two-time SportsDay All-Area first team selection, the team is virtually intact. Other key returnees include senior forward Katie Dagenais and senior defender Erin Grant.

Plano West optimistic despite key losses from 5A championship team

G.J. MCCARTHY/DMN

Sophomore Lexi Harris, who was in the under-17 national team camp, returns at forward.

What looked to be a sure dynasty in the making last April appears more like a rebuilding year for Plano West's girls. Fresh off winning its fourth state championship in its seven-year history, Plano West was expected to return a solid core and be the favorite for a repeat performance.

Not so fast.

Four key members of last year's team, including two three-year starters, have decided to focus on club soccer. Add in the season-ending knee injury of junior defender Melanie Foncham, SportsDay's Newcomer of the Year in 2007, and things appear very dire at Plano West. Or are they?

Not really, according to coach Jennifer Grubb, whose team was 25-2 last year. She said the talent is as good as it's been at Plano West, but, with only one senior, the team needs seasoning. Grubb said she is pleased with the enthusiasm.

"This group of kids is very competitive," Grubb said. "They are definitely going to be able to handle it."

Foncham, senior midfielder LeeAndrea Morton and junior midfielder Carly McDowell are captains. Sophomore forward Lexi Harris, who had a strong postseason in 2007, gives the team a top-flight talent. Harris recently completed her first camp for the under-17 national team.

"We may not have the players with the statistics," Harris said. "But I don't feel like we are losing anything. I honestly feel we have a strong team even though we have to fill those spots."

OTHER GIRLS TEAMS TO WATCH

OTHER GIRLS PLAYERS TO WATCH

KEY DATES

TODAY: First day for UIL games

MARCH 18: First day of 4A playoffs

MARCH 24: First day of 5A playoffs

APRIL 4-5: 5A regional tournaments (Region I – Pennington Field; Region II – Eagle Stadium, Georgetown, Texas)

APRIL 10-12: UIL state tournament, Round Rock ISD Stadium

WHAT'S NEW

Conrad (Dallas ISD), Frisco Liberty, Lovejoy, Princeton and Mansfield Legacy begin varsity play this season