It’s not as easy to get teams to travel these days, but Wichita Falls High School coach Sam Reed worked hard to bring in what he believes is a good field for the Winter Cup soccer tournament. The 20-team tournament kicks off at 5:30 p.m. today and continues through Saturday. It’s almost four tournaments in one as there are four five-team pools, giving each team four matches. “I think the tournament is pretty competitive, and it’s close enough to the Metroplex,” Reed said. “I think we’ve put on a good tournament the past few years.” Rider, the Winter Cup champion in 2011, is the favorite in Pool B. The Raiders are 9-0 and have outscored their opponents, 24-2. Rider has to contend with Keller, Midland, Amarillo Palo Duro and North Dallas. WFHS is in Pool A with Weatherford, Duncanville, Randall and Lubbock Monterey. Reed believes it’s a competitive draw, and he expects Weatherford and Duncanville to be tough. Pool C has Hirschi, Amarillo Tascosa, Borger, WFHS Red and Canyon, while Pool D includes Burkburnett, Abilene Wylie, Rider Black, Copperas Cove and Pampa. The second teams from Old High and Rider will probably include the junior varsity and some varsity players who will get a chance for more playing time. “I think that’s a plus, so they can help you and improve,” Reed said. 
| Old High will open against Weatherford at 5:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. That match will be followed by Rider against Palo Duro. The other sites used will be Midwestern State, Ervin Garnett Field and Field E. “Midwestern has been nice enough to let us use their field, and a lot of the players from out of town like playing in that atmosphere,” Reed said. “We appreciate Midwestern’s cooperation for sure.” | Each pool will have a champion decided on points, three for a win and one for a tie, with ties being broken on goal differential and then goals allowed. The team with the most points from any group is the overall champion. I think the tournament is pretty competitive, and it’s close enough to the Metroplex. I think we’ve put on a good tournament the past few years.” Sam Reed, Wichita Falls High School coach |
POOL A THURSDAY WFHS vs. Weatherford, 5:30 p.m., Memorial Duncanville vs. Lubbock Monterey, MSU FRIDAY Weatherford vs. Duncanville, noon, Memorial Randall vs. Monterey, noon, Field E WFHS vs. Monterey, 5 p.m., Garnett Field Duncanville vs. Randall, 5 p.m., MSU SATURDAY Randall vs. WFHS, 9 a.m., MSU practice field Monterey vs. Weatherford, 9 a.m., Field E Weatherford vs. Randall, 2 p.m., Field E WFHS vs. Duncanville, 2 p.m., Memorial POOL B THURSDAY Rider vs. Palo Duro, 7:30 p.m., Memorial Keller vs. North Dallas, 7:30 p.m., MSU FRIDAY Midland vs. Keller, 2 p.m., Memorial Palo Duro vs. North Dallas, 2 p.m., Field E SATURDAY North Dallas vs. Rider, 11 a.m., Memorial Midland vs. Palo Duro, 11 a.m., MSU practice field Rider vs. Keller, 4 p.m., Memorial North Dallas vs. Midland, 4 p.m., Field E | POOL C THURSDAY Hirschi vs. Tascosa, 7:30 p.m., Garnett Field WFHS Red vs. Canyon, 7:30 p.m., Field E FRIDAY Borger vs. Tascosa, 2 p.m., MSU practice field Canyon vs. Hirschi, 2 p.m., Garnett Field WFHS Red vs. Borger, 7 p.m. Field E Tascosa vs. Canyon, 7 p.m., Memorial SATURDAY Hirschi vs. WFHS Red, 11 a.m., Garnett Field Borger vs. Canyon, 11 a.m., Field E WFHS Red vs. Tascosa, 4 p.m., MSU Hirschi vs. Borger, 4 p.m., McNiel POOL D THURSDAY Burkburnett vs. Abilene Wylie, 5:30 p.m., Garnett Field Rider Black vs. Pampa, 5:30 p.m., Field E FRIDAY Burkburnett vs. Pampa, noon, MSU practice field Copperas Cove vs. Abilene Wylie, noon, Garnett Field Pampa vs. Abilene Wylie, 5 p.m., Memorial Copperas Cove vs. Rider Black, 5 p.m., Field E SATURDAY Rider Black vs. Burkburnett, 9 a.m., Garnett Field Pampa vs. Copperas Cove, 9 a.m., Memorial Burkburnett vs. Copperas Cove, 2 p.m., MSU practice field Abilene Wylie vs. Rider Black, 2 p.m., Garnett Field |
