UIL State Soccer Roundup, Day 4: Lone Star, Seven Lakes boys, Marcus girls bring home titles

Senior forward Bartek Zabek scored two goals for Frisco Lone Star as the Rangers ran away with a 4-1 win over El Paso Bel Air in the boys Class 5A state championship game on Saturday at Birkelbach Field.

It was the first trip to the state tournament for Lone Star (24-1-2). The Rangers had never made it past the first round before Lone Star reached the regional final last season.

It was the second tournament appearance for Bel Air (28-1-1) which claimed a state championship in 2019.

Zabek, the championship game Most Valuable Player, opened the scoring for Lone Star in the 19th minute working a give and go with Jamin Samons.

The Rangers broke open a close game at the half with three second-half tallies. Zabek scored again in the 46th minute when Tucker Eason headed a ball ahead to Zabek who scored off his own rebound for a 2-0 lead.

Samons made it 3-0 in the 60th minute when he blasted a shot just inside the right post off a free kick from Salim Chavez.

The Highlanders finally got on the board in the 68th minute when Sebastian Licon made a beautiful cross to Ruben Esparza who headed the ball in from 10 yards out.

Tucker Eason put the game away for Lone Star, scoring on a penalty kick in the 73rd minute.

CLASS 6A GIRLS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Flower Mound Marcus 2, Missouri City Ridge Point 0

Bella Campos scored twice for Flower Mound Marcus including a break-away goal in the 42nd minute to break a scoreless tie and propel the Marauders past Missouri City Ridge Point 2-0 in the girls Class 6A championship game on Saturday at Birkelbach Field.

Marcus (26-1-1) captured its second state title in seven trips to the final four. It was the Marauders fourth championship game appearance.

Campos started her charge from the left side 40 yards from the goal line, side stepped a Panther defender 20 yards out, then punched a low liner past a charging Molly Thompson, the Ridge Point goalkeeper, just inside the right post.

Campos, the championship game MVP, added a goal on a penalty kick in the 59th minute.

Thompson, the Ridge Point keeper, was charged with the foul in the box and had to leave the game after a head injury on the play. Her replacement, Alicia Audu, was no match for Campos who punched it just inside the left post.

Thompson returned in the 71st minute.

Ridge Point (24-1-5) advanced a round farther than they did a season ago when the Panthers lost to Rockwall in overtime in the semifinals in their first state tournament appearance.

CLASS 6A BOYS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Katy Seven Lakes 2, Dripping Springs 1

Hunter Merritt scored two goals in a seven-minute span in the second half and Katy Seven Lakes hung on to beat Dripping Springs 2-1 in the Class 6A state championship game on Saturday at Birkelbach Field.

Merritt was voted championship game MVP with his two goals on four shots in 78 minutes of action.

The Spartans, who were playing at the state tournament for the second straight season, won their first title and finish the year 28-1-1. Seven Lakes lost to Plano 3-2 in last year’s state semifinals.

Merritt broke a scoreless tie in the 55th minute.

Aidan Morrison sent a free kick into the box and Kortay Koc had a shot on goal. It was deflected and Merritt tapped in the rebound.

Dripping Springs goalkeeper Lucas Perez couldn’t fully secure the ball in the 62nd minute as Merritt forced a turnover, poked the ball away and tapped in his second score to extend the lead to 2-0.

Seven Lakes had 15 shots with 10 on goal. Perez did a manageable job limiting the Spartans to only two goals while making eight saves.

Dripping Springs (15-12-2) got a goal back in the 66th minute when Joey Svoboda scored on a 35-yard free kick to make it 2-1.

The game was physical, especially in the second half when both teams picked up three yellow cards each.

Seven Lakes finishes the season on a 10-game winning streak and outscored opponents 111-18.

Dripping Springs was at state for the second straight season and third overall while searching for its first title. The Tigers lost to Frisco Wakeland 3-0 in the 5A final last season before moving up to Class 6A.