Elgin’s Ashley Frederick and Bastrop’s Kattie Patterson have stirred up a debate.
Who’s the queen of the soccer field in Bastrop County?
It’s a fun debate that may never get an answer because Patterson is a senior and Frederick is a junior, so a head-to-head meeting is impossible.
Bastrop and Elgin will likely end up in the same soccer district next year, but it will be too late. (Soccer districts have not been released.)
The two teams did meet earlier in the season and the Lady Bears won that match 2-0.
Guess who scored the only goals? Yep, Patterson.
That was the first game of the season, however, and the two have picked up their game drastically.
Both players are in the Top 5 in scoring in Central Texas and are currently well ahead in the Bastrop County scoring race.
Frederick right now leads Patterson by one goal and one assist, but that could change tomorrow and then again next week.
Between them there are 35 goals and 15 assists.
Frederick’s 18 goals have aided the Lady Cats to a near perfect district record. Elgin currently sits atop the District 48-4A standings by one point.
“We have a long tradition of good forwards in program, but Ashley has been the most efficient and consistent player we have ever had,” said Elgin head coach Pedro Eguez. “She combines speed, strength and a special ability to score goals. She can score from every angle on the field.”
Of Patterson’s 17 goals, six were scored in the first five games of the season.
That came in handy as former player Gracy Mansfield was getting a lot of defensive pressure.
After Mansfield was dismissed from the team, Patterson emerged as the leader of a group of talented players.
In her first game after Mansfield’s dismissal, Patterson scored three of Bastrop’s six goals in a win over Anderson.
Two game’s later, the senior striker had another hat-trick in a 7-1 win over Akins.
Another interesting statistic is that Bastrop is 8-1 when Patterson scores a goal, but 5-4 when she doesn’t.
“Kattie is by far one of the most talented players I have had the privilege to coach,” said Bastrop head coach Angelia Watson. “She is very skilled on the ball, unselfish on the field and a definite playmaker. She is the type of player that elevates the ability and attitude of those around her.”
With every great player, there is a strong support staff.
Frederick’s main support comes from Santa Araujo, who has eight goals and five assists.
Patterson’s support line comes from Kaylyn Butler, who has one assist and seven goals, but freshman Haley Mendel has added five goals.
Frederick and Patterson may never get to battle it out on the soccer field, but the throne still needs a queen.
When it’s all said and done at the end of the season, both players may share the crown.