The Flower Mound Marcus girls soccer team scored two goals in the second half, both by senior forward Bella Campos as the Marauders defeated Fort Bend Ridge Point 2-0 in the UIL Class 6A state championship game on Saturday at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.
It was Marcus’ first trip the state tournament since 2018 and seventh overall.
The Marauders (26-1-1) captured their second title in program history and first since 2005.
Both teams had chances in the first half as Ridge Point got off three shots to Marcus’ five, but neither team was able to score. Marcus would amp up the pressure early in the second half as the Marauders scored in the 42nd minute to grab a 1-0 lead.
Campos, who will continue her career at Colorado School of Mines, recovered a turnover from Ridge Point and dribbled for about 40 yards before beating Ridge Point keeper Molly Thompson one on one for the unassisted goal.
She was voted state champ MVP.
Marcus out shot Ridge Point 7-2 in the second half and 10-7 overall. The Panthers (24-1-3), in the state tournament for the second straight season, had the edge in corner kicks at 5-2 and had four attempts before the intermission.
Both the Marauders and Panthers crossed midfield several times in the second half, but in the 59th minute with Marcus having possession and nearing the box, freshman Madi Patterson went for a ball at the same time Thompson was making a play. The two collided just inside the box and the head official called a foul on the Ridge Point keeper.
It gave Marcus a penalty kick and Campos scored on back-up keeper Alicia Audu.
Ridge Point made five saves to Marcus’ three. Audu had three saves and Thompson had two. Marcus also split halves in goal with Bry Russell and Taylor McEnaney. Russell made two saves and McEnaney had one. Marcus had seven shots on goal with Campos leading at four. Ridge Point had three shots on goal from Charlotte Richardson, Allison Wilson and Laurel Kelley.
The Marauders ended the season with 18 straight wins and a goal differential of 130-15 along with 17 shutouts. Marcus outscored teams 24-4 in the playoffs. The Marauders didn’t allow a goal in their final four games (Byron Nelson, Southlake Carroll, Round Rock Westwood, Ridge Point).
They won the Class 6A Region 1 tournament, arguably the toughest region in the state and defeated defending champ and 29-0 Carroll in the final.
They also beat Westwood 4-0 in Friday’s state semifinal round.
The senior class of 2023 ends their career with a state title, back-to-back district titles and two finishes in the 6A Region 1 final. During that span, Marcus posted an 88-11-10 record, 417 goals scored, 70 goals allowed and 59 shutouts.
