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Senior forward Theresa McCullough scored in the 86th minute and Grapevine defeated Smithson Valley 2-1 in overtime during a UIL Class 5A girls soccer state semifinal on Thursday at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.
The Mustangs (25-3-2), who are in the state tournament for the third straight season, will play in the 5A championship at 11 am on Saturday. It’s Grapevine’s second straight appearance in the state title game and fourth overall.
Grapevine lost to Frisco Wakeland in 2022, 2018 and Frisco Centennial in 2016.
It’s the program’s sixth trip to state, however the Mustangs are still searching for their first title.
It took less than a minute in the match for Smithson Valley (27-1) to score as Sabrina Taber gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead. LA Tech commit Caroline Martin nearly scored the equalizer for Grapevine in the 18th minute, but her try hit the right post.
Grapevine nearly scored just before intermission, but was called off sides. McCullough, a Baylor signee, got a shot off and Smithson Valley keeper Jacy White couldn’t secure it. Samantha Lumpkin was able to find the net, but she was ruled off sides.
Grapevine kept the pressure on with a shot from McCullough in the 52nd minute from 10 yards out that was saved by White. The Mustangs owned the shot advantage for the day, but the Rangers continued to hold a 1-0 lead.
McCullough scored the equalizer just inside the box in the 67th minute when she beat a diving White. Grapevine nearly took the lead two minutes left in regulation, but Rowan Truman’s attempt went wide left. A minute later, McCullough picked up a rebound and her shot from 12 yards away just went over the cross bar.
McCullough scored six minutes into the first overtime to give Grapevine a 2-1 lead. She is up to 32 goals this season. Grapevine extended its win streak to 15 games.
Cecila Cerone and Addison Williams were in goal for Grapevine. Those two along with the defense and back line shut down the Rangers for 89 minutes after the early goal. The Rangers came in averaging 4.9 goals per game this season and 5.2 goals in the playoffs.
