Cinco Ranch girls, boys soccer teams head to state tournament

KATY, TX (KTRK) -- Both the boys and girls teams from Cinco Ranch are headed to the state soccer tournament.

The Cinco Ranch girls for a second straight year, the boys team is returning to state for the first time since 2008.

The Cougar boys have leaned on their defense all season and with good reason. Junior goal keeper Patrick Hillyard is a goal stopping machine. The Cougars eliminating both Sam Houston and Elsik on penalty kicks in the playoffs, with Hillyard coming up huge.

Coach Mason Whitfield has been amazed with Hillyard's play.

"It looks like it's going in and Hillyard just shows up and you go 'OK that's another great one,'" said Coach Whitfield.

Hillyard is clutch every time according to teammate senior Chris Stamm. Hillyard says it's a little instinct and sometimes luck. He just tries to do his best. And Hillyard's best has helped Cinco Ranch reach the state soccer tournament for the second time in school history.

The undefeated Cougars ranked eighth in the nation. They'll face third ranked Arlington Sam Houston in Friday's semi-finals in Georgetown.

Whitfield says, "We've already made history and this is the icing on the cake."

The icing will probably include more clutch saves by Hillyard. Cougars confident in Hillyard and Hillyard showing confidence beyond his years.

Whitfield remembers before both PK's he comes up and said, coach give me a smile that gives me confidence.'

Hillyard says,"He told me to give him a smile. It'll give me good luck he said. We won the game so it was good."

If the games come down to penalty kicks. The Cougars are in good hands.