BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @gmsportsmedia1
X – @gosset41
Check out some of the best games, upsets and performances around the metroplex. Go to gmsportsmedia.com to see updated soccer scores and pairings throughout the playoffs.
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ALEDO – It took 100 minutes and over 10 rounds of penalty kicks, but the Colleyville Heritage girls soccer team edged out Burleson Centennial during their Class 5A Division 1 area round contest on Wednesday at Aledo High School.
Addison Bizjack scored for the Panthers during the 12th round of the shootout and Centennial’s attempt was wide – sending Heritage to a 2-1 victory (10-9 in PKs) and onto a regional semifinal date with Amarillo Tascosa, which beat EP Chapin 3-2 on Tuesday night. CHHS and Tascosa will face off 5 pm Friday at Abilene Wylie HS.
The Panthers improved to 14-2-1.
The Spartans end at 17-2-1.
“When you get into PKs, it’s just a coin flip. There’s so much pressure and there’s no way to replicate it in practice,” CHHS coach Monte Pace said. “You just try to pick people who are confident to go shoot. I told our goalkeeper Emily [Wurst] to make one save and we’ll have a chance. She made that first save and it just continued to go on. It’s just so tough and the pressure builds. You have to give credit to Burleson Centennial, they hung in there with us. Happy to get the win.”
After both teams scored twice after two rounds in the shootout, Centennial goalkeeper Alyssa Yeoman made the stop in begin Round 3, but she was flagged for coming off the line too soon – giving Heritage’s Addison Shimmick a second chance, which she scored on. Centennial tied it at 3-3 on Charlie Watson’s attempt.
Yeoman made another save in Round 4, but again was flagged.
However, on the second try, Yeoman made the stop one more time to keep it even at 3. The Spartans had a shot to take a lead, but Wurst got her own save, leaving it 3-3 and going to the fifth and potentially final round.
Brielle McDaniel (CHHS) and Emery Tatum (BC) both scored to bring it to 4-all and send it to a sudden death. The Panthers continued to score from Addison Atkins, Emily Peikert, Camille Seeley and Alexa Muniga while the Spartans kept up the pace with scores from Addison Moorman, Kylie Mozisek, Alexis Castor and Hannah Heltzel.
With it 8-8 after nine rounds, both teams couldn’t score in Round 10.
Heritage’s attempt went high and Wurst made her second save to keep the Spartans from winning.
Atkins scored on Heritage’s 11th attempt while Katie Bailey scored on Centennial’s. Wurst nearly won it against Bailey – making the initial stop, but she couldn’t secure it as the ball hit the ground and rolled in to put it at 9-9.
Bizjack scored in the 12th round and Centennial’s try went wide – sending the Panthers to rush the field in celebration. Last year, CHHS went to the state tournament for the first time since 2011, but lost to Frisco Wakeland 3-2 in the 5A final.
“Playing in the state title game last year – they have playoff experience – they know it’s not over until that last whistle goes off so they keep working and keep fighting,” Pace said. “I’m proud of how resilient we were. They didn’t get their heads down and didn’t stop. They found a way and then when it goes to PKs, anything can happen.”
The Panthers’ season looked like it was about to end when Centennial scored in the 94th minute. Castor sent a long pass to Bailey, who beat Wurst to the ball and kicked it over her head and in from about 20 yards out.
Less than two minutes later and the Panthers had new life. Atkins sent a corner kick into the box and the ball went off a Centennial player and in for the 1-1 tie in the 96th minute.
“We showed so much respect to #5 Katie Bailey – she’s fast and she has scored a ton of goals this year. We tried to contain her, we didn’t want to let her get through. She finally got behind one time and that’s all it took,” Pace said. “Tough to go down with 4 1/2 minutes left, but our team has so much character. Lots of bodies in the box, we were just trying to get the ball in there and have it ping pong around – hoping it found a way in.”
The game was originally scheduled for 7 pm Tuesday night at Newsom Stadium in Mansfield. But the weather didn’t cooperate as the match didn’t start due to a lightning delay that lasted around two hours before both coaches agreed to call it a night and postpone it until Wednesday.
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STAT OF THE NIGHT
4- Marcus’ Madi Patterson scored four goals as the Marauders defeated Arlington Lamar 6-0 in the girls area round. Patterson, who is committed to Texas Tech, helped lead Marcus to the Class 6A state title in 2023.
3- Birdville ISD is sending three different schools to the regional semifinals as the Richland and Haltom boys, and Birdville girls all advanced. Richland upset Aledo 1-0 in bi-district and then blanked Burleson Centennial 3-0. Haltom upset 6-6A champ McKinney Boyd 2-1 in area and is going to the third round for the first time in program history. Birdville took care of Cleburne 7-1.
23- The Celina girls defeated Carrollton Ranchview 9-1 in the area round to extend the Bobcats win streak in the playoffs to 23 straight games. Celina has won three straight Class 4A state championships – going 7-0 during the postseason each year, along with two wins in March.
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OTHER NOTABLE WINS
B – BELL 1 ODESSA 0 (PK 5-3)
The Blue Raiders’ defense shined during their Class 6A D1 area round contest – edging out Odessa in a shootout. Bell scored on all five attempts while goalkeeper AJ Rosen held strong in net. The District 4-6A champs will take on Plano West in the regional semifinals. Plano West defeated Lake Highlands 2-1.
G – WALNUT GROVE 2 REEDY 0
Maya Nohr and Hannah Boelscher paced the Walnut Grove girls and the Wildcats shut out the Lions in their Class 5A D1 area round contest on Tuesday at McKinney ISD Stadium.
Walnut Grove improved to 20-1-1.
Reedy ends the season at 11-8-2.
In only their second year as a program, the Wildcats secured a spot in the third round in back-to-back years. WG lost to Frisco Wakeland in the regional quarterfinals last season.
The Wildcats scored in the 7th minute off the foot of Nohr, who beat her defender and then the Reedy goalkeeper near the right post. The Lions had a chance to tie just before halftime, but Walnut Grove goalkeeper Audrey Rush made the save following a free kick.
WG added to its lead in the 66th minute with a goal from Boelscher.
B – HALTOM 2 MCKINNEY BOYD 1
Erik Castanon scored both goals for the Buffalos as Haltom downed the Broncos during their Class 6A D2 area round game on Wednesday. The Buffs secured their 11th win this season – most since MaxPreps starting tracking stats in 2010-11.
Boyd won the District 6-6A title.
Haltom will face Southlake Carroll in the regional semis. Carroll beat San Angelo Central 2-0.
G – KELLER 6 MIDLAND 1
Six different players scored for the Indians, who netted four goals in the second half to beat Midland in their Class 6A D1 area round showdown on Tuesday.
The Keller girls go to 14-1-6 this season.
Claire Garritson (11th minute) and Skylar Belanger (30th) scored in the first half for Keller. Riley Hewitt added a third goal only two minutes into the second half. Mariela Lopez, Kendall Boehmer and Jaida Wang rounded out the scoring for the Indians.
G – FLOWER MOUND 6 RICHARDSON 0
The Jaguars’ season nearly came to an end during the first round of the girls soccer playoffs – trailing 2-0 over #1 Allen at halftime last week. But they rallied back and scored the game-winning goal in extra time as FM won 3-2 in overtime.
On Monday in the Class 6A D1 area round, there was no doubt over the Eagles.
FM scored four times in the opening half to help knock off Richardson.
Brooklyn Gray scored two goals for the Jags, who will face Byron Nelson in the regional semifinals later this week. The Bobcats defeated Odessa Permian 3-1 on Tuesday.
B – CHISHOLM TRAIL 2 JOSHUA 1 OT
The Rangers are continuing their best season in program history after taking down the Owls in overtime during their Class 5A D1 area round game on Tuesday night. It’s their first trip to the playoffs along with the program’s first two playoff wins all time.
CT defeated Denton 3-2 in bi-district. The team faces EP El Dorado in the regional semis.
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OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
B – Faizi Shaib: 2 goals, 2 assists during DHJ’s 6-0 win over Gatesville.
G – Addison Smith: 3 goals, 4 assists during Forney’s 9-0 win over Harker Heights.
G – Zayla Reagan 3 goals, 1 assist during Midlothian’s 7-0 win over WT White.
G – Ryleigh Wood: 2 goals, 2 assists during Wylie East’s 8-0 win over Mesquite Horn.
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BEST GAMES TO WATCH: NEXT ROUND
GIRLS: Prosper Walnut Grove (20-1-1) vs Midlothian (21-1-1)
BOYS: Decatur (20-0-2) vs Castleberry (19-1-3)
