Schools 
Girls soccer season started over the weekend with five of local teams playing in the Killeen Independent School District's Centex Shootout.
The Daily Herald sat down with a representative from each school (Copperas Cove, Ellison, Harker Heights, Killeen and Shoemaker) and asked them questions ranging from the upcoming season to which type of field they prefer. The questions and their answers follow.
Q: What makes this season different from last?
– "Not having Kelso (Kelsey Wilcox, Angelo State) because we kind of depended on Kelso a lot because she had a lot of good shots and she was kind of really our only good shooter," said Jade Rodriquez, a Killeen midfielder. "Now this year, we have like five good shooters, so we have more variety of shots rather than just that one girl."
– "For me, I've actually gotten better (since last season), so I'm going to try more moves, and pass with my team – I'm not looking to score so much, but maybe get more assists," said Ellison senior Jessica Stuckey.
– "Our team … we bond better, we get along well and we have good team chemistry, so I see us doing really well this season," said Shoemaker defender Elimarie Garcia.
– "We need to focus more on communication and working our system that our coaches have been working with us on," said Kristen Grant, a Copperas Cove midfielder. "More movement ball – not so much kicking it and running for it. Possessing it more. "
Q: How many miles do you think you run in a single game?
– "I go to the gym in the morning to lift weights to help with my knee, because I had knee surgery last year," said Maegan Zimmerman, who had to sit out the entire 2009 season for Harker Heights. "But we definitely run a lot during practice, we run a lot of laps around the field at a slow pace – it's a teamwork thing, and we run sprints to keep warm."
– "More than four, but it might depend because you're sprinting so much," said Grant. "It's more like you can consistently go at a different rate. It's not like cross country where you run two miles straight through. You sprint for just so long."
– "At least three or five because I'm center-mid," Rodriguez said. "So I'm moving up-and-down and side-to-side constantly. So, I probably run a lot."
Q: How do you play in the cold weather?
– "…I keep running because, if not, you'll get out there and pull a muscle. So, I just keep moving," Garcia said.
– "Actually I like this weather because you don't sweat as much, but you just have to keep warmed up. You just gotta keep playing with the ball, because your feet freeze up. Hand-warmers work really good, a lot of Under Armour," said Stuckey, who will play soccer for Hardin-Simmons next season.
Q: What do you like most about the sport of soccer?
– "I like to score goals, that's what I like. I like being able to do moves and fake people out, and it still be a team sport," said Stuckey, who is Ellison's all-time leading goal scorer. "... If I 'meg (play the ball through a defender's legs) somebody, it's like 'Ohh, yay!' Like when it goes through the legs... when we do it at practice, we all go crazy and yell, 'Yahtzee' or what not."
Q: What's the difference between playing on turf and playing on grass? Which do you prefer?
– "Turf. Your passes are clean and, since it's turf, you know there are no potholes, so you can pass the ball without having to worry about if there's a pot there and it might bounce away," Rodriguez said. "It makes everything smoother and it's faster-paced on turf."
– "With turf, you have to watch out for how fast the ball runs," Grant said. "The ball won't bounce as much, so you have to be prepared for and not worry about the sudden changes with uneven ground. I prefer turf."
– "Definitely grass. Turf burns hurt and you get better grip on grass," Zimmerman said.
Q: What's it going to take to get to the playoffs?
– "It's going to take hard work and us actually being able to get out there and do what we know how to do and be aggressive," Garcia said.
– "Dedication. At practice we need to work hard and actually try and do stuff instead of just goofing around," Stuckey said.
– "As long as we work together and talk on the field, and have great team spirit, we'll do great," Zimmerman said.
– "Hard work, determined and not giving up," Rodriguez said.
– "We have to stick through every single game," Grant said. "We have to be prepared to fight through the games and not give up any easy goals."
Angel Verdejo contributed to this report.
