JC soccer: Lady Spartans edge Birdville in PKs; Lady Cats, Indians fall in bi-district
Mar. 24—The 2023 UIL soccer playoffs began Thursday night with several Johnson County teams in action. Following are bi-district results from Thursday night action:
Girls
Burleson Centennial edges Birdville in PKs
After playing to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation, Burleson Centennial and Birdville matched each other again in overtime with one goal apiece, sending their Class 5A bi-district playoff contest into a shootout. And the Lady Spartans came through in penalty kicks, 3-2, to advance to the area playoffs.
After Burleson Centennial (18-2-2) went down 2-0 through the first two rounds of penalty kicks, the Lady Spartans received a huge lift from goalkeeper Alyssa Yeoman, who came up with four season-saving saves while Mardie Frye, Maria Cruz and Olivia Garnder all scored on their attempts to give Burleson Centennial a bi-district title.
"I am beyond proud of this group," Coach Heather McMahan said. "It's been a tough season and to turn around and play one of the best districts in the state in the first round is tough. They fought until the end and it was an emotional win for us.
"This group is special because they fight. Every season has its ups and downs, but these girls do not back down. They play for each other and always work hard. Couldn't be more proud of every single one of them tonight."
Birdville struck first and held a 1-0 lead at halftime before Lauren Wichterich tied it up with a goal less than 8 minutes into the second half.
The 1-1 score stood through the end of regulation. In the first overtime period, the Lady Spartans took a 2-1 lead with 6:30 remaining when Wichterich scored her second of the night. But Birdville (18-5-3) found the equalizer with 2:52 left in the second overtime to force a shootout.
In addition to Wichterich's two goals, Kristine Garcia and Journey Curs each recorded assists.
The Lady Spartans now will face Wichita Falls Rider (22-3-2) in the area playoffs. Rider, the District 5-5A champion, dominated Fort Worth Trimble Tech, 7-0, in its bi-district victory Thursday night.
Lady Cats' season ends in PKs
A stellar 2023 season came to a painful end for the Godley Lady Cats in a shootout loss to Brownwood in a Class 4A bi-district playoff battle Thursday in Mineral Wells.
Godley faced a 2-0 deficit at halftime before the Lady Cats came storming back with two goals in the second half — the first by Stephanie Favela and the equalizer by Morgan Cummings — to send it to overtime.
After two scoreless overtime periods, the score remained unchanged, and the Lady Lions prevailed, 3-2, in six shootout rounds.
Godley entered the final round of PKs up by one goal but Brownwood (16-5-1) scored and the Lady Cats missed, which sent it to a sixth round. Brownwood had the first shot and scored then Godley's do-or-die shot to stay alive hit the crossbar, inches away from forcing a seventh round, as the Lady Lions advanced.
It was only the second time all season Godley surrendered two goals in a match.
The Lady Cats, in their third season of UIL soccer, finished 14-2-0.
Boys
Stephenville eliminates Alvarado, 2-0
The Stephenville Yellowjackets scored two goals in the first half and held Alvarado scoreless in a Class 4A bi-district playoff game.
The Indians, who finished third in District 6-4A, end the season 11-12-1 while the Yellowjackets improved to 16-2-2 and will face the winner of Castleberry and Benbrook.
