Round Rock rains on Reagan's parade, advances in high school girls soccer playoffs
KYLE — Round Rock outlasted a lightning delay, rain with a slick field and an uneven start to defeat San Antonio Reagan 2-0 Tuesday night in Class 6A girls soccer area playoff action.
The Dragons advanced to the third round along with district mates Vandegrift and Westwood as well as fellow Central Texas teams Leander, Georgetown, Burnet, Giddings, and Wimberley. Dripping Springs won Monday, too. The nine area schools playing in regional quarterfinals is the most for Central Texas since soccer became a UIL sport.
“We did not have as much energy to start as Reagan; they were fired up and we were just a step away in the first half,” Round Rock coach Chad Aldrich said. The teams battled fiercely, and evenly with neither gaining advantage before the sky over Lobo Stadium at Lehman High school lit up with lightning, sending the teams into shelter and fans out of the stands.
There was just over six minutes left in the fist half when the lightning delayed the match. Dragons standout Kara Harris indicated that Round Rock regrouped during the break.
“The lightning delay helped us refocus,” Harris said. “We talked about not wanting to hang up our shoes and the need to get up to play harder, and it worked.”
Round Rock became more aggressive in the final minutes of the first half as a heavy rain pelted the artificial playing surface. The Dragons pressed Rattlers defenders and inside of one minute left, Harris side-stepped two Rattlers and rocketed a goal into the net to send the Dragons into the intermission with a 1-0 lead.
“Kara’s goal and the entire team energy just got us back into sync and the girls played well in the second half," Aldrich said.
Round Rock dominated ball control in the second half, while the defense of goalkeeper Maddie Chapman and the backline of Makky Thinger, AJ Mayock, Riley Wilson and Sloan Guion denied Reagan of any meaningful scoring opportunities.
Harris was part of an insurance goal sequence for the Dragons when the forward blasted a shot from 40 meters out that was deflected by a Rattlers hand ball, giving Round Rock a free kick from about 35 meters. Wilson took the kick, but instead of a shot on goal, she passed it down the right side to Thinger, who dribble down the sideline and boomed a cross goal shot that literally skipped off the slick surface and into the net for a 2-0 lead with 27:10 left.
Then the rain stopped, the skies cleared and the Dragons midfield and defense proved impenetrable. Round Rock (17-1-4) will play Dripping Springs in the regional quarterfinals.
Other area playoff matches: Vandegrift moves on
Vandegrift 3, S.A. Johnson 2 (shootout): It was a version of going home again as Vandegrift and Vipers head coach Caitlin Sawyer traveled to San Marcos, where they played San Antonio Johnson — Sawyer’s alma mater. Dodging rain and delays, the teams played to a 0-0 deadlock through regulation and overtime, moving to a shootout.
Vandegrift goalie Libby Brooker allowed two goals, made two huge saves and Johnson kicked one attempt off the frame; Vandegrift went in sequence with Avery Putnam, Sophie Baca and Cooper Horn successfully connecting for the three winning goals.
More: Dripping Springs, Georgetown lead area girls teams in playoff pushes
Westwood saved the best for last
Westwood 2, New Braunfels 1: Westwood managed an incredible last-minute goal to advance over the host Unicorns. Westwood's tough early schedule — all six of the Warriors' preseason matches were against ranked teams — could be paying dividends now, head coach Malcolm Framjee said.
“That schedule, mixed with some close one-goal battles with Round Rock and a tie with Vandegrift in district, have helped the Warriors learn how to grind out games,” Framjee said. ”We’ve tied a bunch of games this year and now our young team is maturing and learning how to battle and fight and turn those ties into wins."
Westwood freshman Mia Wiele scored early, and then the match was hit with a rain and hail delay. Wiele later added her second goal of the match with 58 seconds left, sending the Warriors into the third round.
“That’s a moment Mia and her teammates will never forget for the rest of their lives," Framjee said. "When you win a game in that fashion, it creates a feeling that can carry you after in life. A feeling of belief in everything you do, even off the field. When you never stop fighting and grinding, when obstacles are thrown your way, this shows your future is full of fight and promise.”
Leander survives Alamo Heights late
Leander 6, Alamo Heights 5: While Vandegrift won in a 3-2 shootout, Leander had had an even wilder finish as the Lions and Alamo Height Mules played to a 0-0 overtime draw and went to their shootout. Leander missed their first attempt but the Lions got four straight goals. Leander goalkeeper Alyse Kavanaugh saved the third Mule attempt sending the shootout to a 4-4 tie and forcing a sudden death round with each team taking a shot until there was a difference. Alamo Heights sailed their attempt over the top bar and Leander’s Kylie Quinn blasted her shot into goal for the Lion win.
Other scores: Hendrickson, McCallum, Bastrop fall
Georgetown 3, Lake Belton 2: Georgetown jumped to a 3-0 halftime lead on goals by Kim Salazar, Finley Newell and Mycah Morrow, and then the Eagles' defense stiffened after Lake Belton rallied in the second half. Addie Russu, Salazar and Maeve Connerty each had assists.
Wimberley 5, Uvalde 1: Wimberley advanced with goals by Jordin Donaldson, Emily Thames, Ella Sandoval, Lili Sandoval, and Haley Lopez.
Burnet 4, Gonzales 0: Burnet blanked Gonzales, getting goals from Julie Suazo, Brook Oliva, Kaycie Banton and Haylie Bartlett.
Other scores — Giddings 1, Needville 0; A&M Consolidated 3, Hendrickson 2 (penalty kicks); Magnolia 4, Bastrop 1; Belton 6, McCallum 0
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Round Rock girls lead a record nine area teams into soccer third round
