Magnolia’s Ellis starring at new old position

Magnolia girls soccer coach April Cleveland did not have to look far in replacing first team all-stater and 2022 Montgomery County Goalkeeper MVP Taylor Sanderson.

She plucked a key part of her team’s attack to lead her defense.

In between the posts this season is senior Maddie Ellis, who transitioned from playing forward.

But Ellis, a second team all-district forward last season, is no stranger to making stops and delivering goal kicks. She plays goalkeeper for her Houston Dash club team and will be attending Southern Miss to play the position.

What might be a difficult adjustment for almost any other forward has been seamless for Ellis, who is averaging 15 saves per game for the 2-1 Bulldogs.

“It’s been an easy transition,” Ellis said. “I’ve been playing goalkeeper almost my whole life and that’s what I’m going to college for. It’s not a shock. It’s comfortable with this team. The only thing that’s different is playing goalie with different people, but I’ve played with these girls the last two years. It’s pretty easy to connect with them.”

A short-handed Magnolia team came up just short in delivering a birthday win for Ellis on Saturday afternoon, but the celebratory cupcakes and singing after the 1-0 setback to Summer Creek at Summer Creek High School might as well have been for Ellis’ admirable effort this year.

“Maddie’s leading the team,” Cleveland said. “She’s a captain. She does a great job making saves. She’s awesome for us. You can see her confidence. You can see she’s at home when she’s in the goal.”

Ellis played forward the last two years with Sanderson in net. She thrived there as well.

Ellis scored in the regional tournament last spring to help lead Magnolia to the state tournament, where it lost in the semifinals. But she was thrilled when it was her turn to take over at goalkeeper after Sanderson departed for Houston Christian University.

“I was sad because it was the end of my career as a forward, but it’s fun to do something different,” Ellis said. “It’s good that I get to show off what I’m really good at.”

Ellis is powerful in the air and plays well in one-on-one situations. Confidence is her best friend.

She had 20 saves in the loss to Summer Creek. However, it was the one that got away—a bang-bang rebound near the net that a Summer Creek player tapped through in the 38th minute after Ellis made a diving save—that she wanted back.

“It was a tricky one,” said Ellis, who has allowed one goal and posted two shutouts in three games. “Unlucky. I had the save before that, and sometimes you lose where the ball is. I couldn’t see where the ball was, and it was just unlucky that we couldn’t clear it.”

Because of not being at full strength, Cleveland used players in different positions all throughout the Summer Creek game.

Senior Rylee Pierce thrived no matter where she was put at. Senior Samantha Guidie was impactful playing four different positions.

Senior center back Kaitlyn Myers has been a calming presence in high-pressured situations. Junior Hadley Kelly has assumed Ellis’ spot at forward with junior Ellie Ketzner.

“I think it’s good to experience this now in a tournament before district starts,” Cleveland said. “We moved some people around to experience new positions and we’re going to learn from it. We’re going to build from each game. Players are having to prove where they’re going to play. I think it’s exciting.”