Birdville girls soccer head coach Eddie Brown is very familiar with the schools from Wichita Falls.
Facing a playoff regular in Rider HS, the two squared off for the championship on Saturday in the 16th annual Jonny Baggett Memorial tournament in North Richland Hills. Behind a shutout in regulation, the Hawks out-lasted the Raiders in penalty kicks 3-2 to secure the program’s FIFTH title all-time in tournament history.
Senior defender Pilar Daily was named Birdville’s player of the match.
Junior Reagan Landers and senior goalkeeper Nica Pacione helped the Hawks limit Rider scoreless in regulation and then Pacione made three saves in PKs.
Birdville’s three PKs came from senior Trinity Doom, junior Lanie Riddle and freshman Mattea Perry.
The Hawks made it to the championship thanks to a 2-0 win over Brewer in Friday’s semifinals. Senior Chloe Mendiola netted a goal in the sixth minute from about 20 yards with a volley that went over the goalkeeper.
Then just before the intermission, freshman forward Raegan Brown got a deflection in the box and found the back of the net for her third career goal. Birdville is now 6-1-1 on the season.
Next up for Birdville – District play in 7-5A.
Brown, a longtime coach, has over 400 career wins.
