JATO Media

Nolan Catholic’s soccer teams travel diverse paths
By TOBIAS XAVIER LOPEZ
tlopez@star-telegram.com

The Nolan Catholic girls soccer team enjoys national rankings, an elite showcase tournament filled with national powerhouses from California to Florida and Division I college signings every year.

The boys program, well, they just seem to be consistent winners.
Both programs head to San Antonio for the TAPPS Division I state tournament beginning today. Yet the two teams that share the same practice field after school don’t seem to share the same identity.

The girls program brings plenty of flash by regularly competing with the elite public school programs in the area and nationwide.

The boys team seems for whatever reason to slide by in a quieter existence.
"The boys have always been about getting out there and getting done," Nolan Catholic girls coach Jay Fitzgerald said. "They’re not all about the bells and whistles. The girls want to look good while they’re out there doing it."

Boys coach Adam Clementson said he’s not bothered at all by the attention the girls program draws.

"It’s been a blessing in disguise with the boys being a little bit under the radar," Clementson said. "... Of course I want the boys to have the best recognition possible but on a selfish point of view it enables the boys to keep focused on the task that they have set ahead of them."
The boys team is undefeated (16-0-3) heading into a 5 p.m. matchup against San Antonio Central Catholic in the state semifinals.

The Vikings own seven state titles, with the most recent one coming in 2006.
The program accomplished its first of three goals by winning the Division I District 1 title and needs only two more wins to secure an undefeated season and the state title for its final two goals.

Meanwhile the girls program, for all its success and attention still chases its white whale – Dallas Ursuline. The Lady Bears have claimed the past 18 state titles while Nolan Catholic (21-7-1) has finished second the past eight years.

The Lady Vikings program has four state titles but the last one came in 1989. They meet San Antonio Antonian at 1 p.m. today in San Antonio.

However, Nolan Catholic has reason for hope this season after knocking off Ursuline twice in district play.

"I think the girls believe in themselves more than ever before," Fitzgerald said. "They say it’s tough to beat someone three times in one year but Ursuline’s done it to us before so why can’t we do it this year?"

Nolan Catholic's boys soccer team, including Ryan Embree, is hoping to add to the school's state title collection.

For Video on the State Bound Nolan Women's Soccer Team visit the following link:
http://video.star-telegram.videos.vmixcore.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=3125065&f=txfor

TAPPS State Tournament (San Antonio)
Friday’s games
BOYS
Division I
Fort Worth Nolan Catholic vs. San Antonio Central Catholic, 5 p.m., Edgewood ISD Mata Stadium
Plano John Paul vs. San Antonio Antonian, 7 p.m., Edgewood ISD Mata Stadium
Championship, Saturday 4 p.m., Edgewood ISD Mata Stadium

GIRLS
Division I
Fort Worth Nolan Catholic vs. San Antonio Antonian, 1 p.m., Edgewood ISD Mata Stadium
Dallas Ursuline vs. Houston St. Agnes, 3 p.m., Edgewood ISD Mata Stadium
Championship, Saturday 2 p.m., Edgewood ISD Mata Stadium