Burnet girls soccer takes the field with new coach

CAPTION: Doug Ketcham takes over the Burnet High School girls soccer program that has won almost 80 matches in the last four years. Courtesy photo

The Burnet High School girls soccer team will begin its season with scrimmages and by giving back to its community.

The Lady Dawgs are participating in a toy drive during the scrimmage against Lampasas Tuesday, Dec. 16, when the junior varsity takes the field at 4 p.m. and the varsity at 5:30 p.m. Players, coaches and fans can donate toys and books for children ages 2-17 in boxes as they walk in.

This is the third year the two programs have competed in a toy drive. Two years ago Lampasas won. Last year Burnet won.

It will be the second scrimmage the Lady Dawgs have participated in. The first is at Killeen Chaparral Friday, Dec. 12, with the junior varsity playing at 5 p.m. and the varsity at 7 p.m.

This season the Lady Dawgs have a new head coach, Doug Ketcham, who served as the Kerrville Tivy head coach for two years.

“I tell them every day it’s like a dream job for me,” he said. “They’re not just fantastic soccer players, but they’re great people. Every day is fun and enjoyable. So for me, I couldn’t be happier with where we are and me being here.”

He takes over a Lady Dawgs program that posted a 79-23-5 overall record and 45-5-1 in district play in four years. During that time, they won three district titles but the one year they didn’t win it was the season that ended with a historical march to the Class 4A Region III tournament. That was in 2022. 

While those accomplishments speak for themselves, Ketcham noted they don’t happen without committed and talented players. He has witnessed a lot of that since he began working here.

“Them being so competitive was a big draw,” he said. “But the other big draw for me was the just the size of the school .I liked having the smaller size. You feel like it’s more homey that way, that you can get to know people more, not just teachers, but the students and the community.”

Last year’s team graduated six seniors. But this year’s team has six seniors to go with other talented players.

“They’re fantastic talents,” Ketcham said. “So I don’t feel like putting them on the varsity is over their heads or over what they can do. They fit in just fine. I don’t foresee it being an issue. They don’t seem intimidated at all. So far it’s worked out great.”  

One important aspect is the team chemistry on and off the field. Ketcham has witnessed that already, he said.

“They definitely do have that,” he said. “They’re pretty tightly knit together. They seem to get along pretty well. This is my 24th year (to coach), so girls are a little different coaching. The girls here seem to get along well and they’re encouraging one another more often than not, so that helps quite a bit.”

His first opportunity to coach was a girls team. At the time, he thought he’d coach a girls squad for two years “to get my feet grounded and learn the game because it’s a little slower.”

“But then, after just being around the girls, they’re a little more mature than the boys, so it makes this process much easier for me,” the coach said.  

The first month is all about learning more about each Lady Dawg’s strengths.

“I’d like to just see them just fight and full-out effort,” Ketcham said. “That’s the biggest thing we’ve been working on. We do a lot of conditioning and I just harp on them that we just don’t have time to be lazy. We have to get into game shape. I’m just super excited about this year, and I love all the fellow coaches here, (athletic director Grant) Freeman coming in as well. He’s demanding, but I like that he is demanding and says what the expectations are.”