MCKINNEY – Prosper junior Reagan Roberts got a second chance in the shootout and senior goalkeeper Maggie Manning made the game-clinching save to send the Eagles past the Southlake Carroll Dragons in their Class 6A Region 1 semifinal match on Friday at McKinney ISD Stadium.
In high school soccer – a shootout (with five penalty kicks) takes place after regulation and overtime if the two teams are still tied. But Prosper and SLC needed two bonus penalty kicks to determine a winner. After the game was tied 1-1 following 100 minutes of action, the Eagles out-dueled the Dragons 5-4 in the shootout (seven rounds).
With Prosper going first every round, Roberts lined up for the Eagles’ seventh penalty kick attempt. Her try was saved by Carroll all-state keeper and TCU bound Olivia Geller. But the official on the goal line ruled a re-try. According to the rules, the keeper cannot cross the line prior to the kick, which they had ruled Geller did. Roberts lined up for a second attempt and drilled the goal to give the Eagles a 5-4 lead.
Carroll came up looking to send it to an eighth round with Carly Walter coming up the ball, but her attempt was saved by the Houston signee Manning as her teammates rushed the field. The Dragons (24-1-1) came into Friday’s match with 163 goals in 25 matches – averaging 6.5 per contest. Meanwhile the SLC defense had been stellar all year with just 15 goals allowed, but Prosper’s D wasn’t far off.
The Eagles (23-2-2) gave up only their 23rd score this season – in 27 games. They beat Coppell in the bi-district round (2-1 OT), Arlington in area (5-2) and Hebron in the quarterfinals (1-0). They advance to Saturday’s regional championship at 10 am back at MISD Stadium vs defending champ FM Marcus, which beat Wolfforth Frenship 1-0.
It’s Prosper’s first trip the regional tourney in Class 6A.
Carroll had made the trip for the third consecutive year. The Dragons won the Class 6A state championship in 2019 and 2022 – and fell to Marcus 1-0 in the 2023 regional title match. The Dragons’ back line came into Friday’s game vs Prosper with one goal allowed in three previous playoff games. They shutout Crowley (7-0) and Midland (9-0) before beating District 4-6A mate Keller Timber Creek in the quarterfinals (6-1).
But the Eagles got on Carroll early with a goal and 1-0 lead in the 6th minute.
SLC’s back line couldn’t quite push the ball down field and Prosper senior Brooklyn Miller (Samford) got past two defenders and scored the breakaway goal following a 1 v 1 over Geller just inside the penalty box. But it didn’t take long for Carroll to respond. Just three minutes later in the 9th minute, the Dragons knotted the score at 1 apiece following a beauty from Hannah Jordan (Penn State).
Jordan ripped a shot from 32 yards away and beat Manning into the upper right 90.
Both teams had a chance in the 22nd and 24th minutes. Prosper’s shot went over the top post and after Jordan was fouled at the 15, Kamdyn Fuller’s free kick went out of bounds. The Eagles got another shot on goal in the 29th minute, but Geller batted down the ball and SLC cleared. Geller then made a diving catch in the 30th minute to keep it tied at 1. Jordan sent one from 30 yards that was caught by Manning in the 37th minute. Carroll got a free kick from 50 yards by Presley Wilkerson that was about five feet too high in the 54th minute. Prosper had a prime opportunity in the 61st minute. Miller raced down field and found Bella Fregoso who’s try from about 25 yards hit the top post.
Carroll’s Kaylie Harris was issued a red card and the Dragons were forced to play down a player with 12 minutes left in regulation. Both teams were tied after 80 minutes before Manning made two great saves in the overtime periods. Jordan drilled a free kick from 32 yards and Manning got her right hand on it to push the ball over the top post that set up a SLC corner in the 95th minute.
Two minutes later and Aubriena Driskill sent a cross from the 10 to inside the box and Jordan was there to head it in but Manning got both hands on the ball to fling it over the top post again in the 97th minute. In the shootout, Geller made the stop in Round 1 and Fuller scored to give SLC a 1-0 lead. Olivia Hess (Baylor) scored for Prosper in Round 2 and Julia Pino gave Carroll a 2-1 edge. Geller made her second save in the shootout in Round 3 but Manning matched it with her first save to keep it 2-1 SLC. Fergoso scored for the Eagles while Carroll missed its try and it was tied at 2 after four rounds.
Beya Rosales gave Prosper a 3-2 lead to start Round 5 and Jordan needed to score to extend it. She did and it was 3-3 going into sudden death kicks. Khloe Griffith (Prosper) and Wilkerson (SLC) scored to make it 4-4 after Round 6. A win on Saturday for Prosper will give the Eagles their first berth into next week’s UIL state tournament which is held in Georgetown.
Carroll was #1 in the final 6A state poll by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
Prosper was #6.
