BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
===============================
The Castleberry Lions (22-1-3) will play Salado (23-3-3) in the Class 4A Division 1 championship match at 6:30 pm Thursday from Birkelbach Field at Georgetown HS. After beating Lake Dallas in the Region 1 final, the program clinched its first trip to the state semifinals.
After blanking Nevada Community in the semis, the program is now playing for a state title.
It’s never happened for boys or girls soccer in school history.
“To finally break through that wall, it’s pretty special,” head coach Paul Smith said.
“I’m pretty fired up.”
During the past six seasons, Castleberry has been a premier team in DFW and the state.
The Lions won 19 games during Smith’s second season before COVID-19 canceled the rest of the games with about a month left. Castleberry also had a great shot at state that spring – going 19-1-2 before the cancellation. They were on an 11-game winning streak, 10-0 in district and owned a 91-19 goal differential in 22 matches.
Smith has led Castleberry to 20 or more since 2021.
Since 2019, the Lions have posted a 130-21-9 record.
It also included a regional final appearance in 2022.
“I don’t think I’ve built anything,” Smith said. “These kids work hard and are extremely talented, and we’ve put all the pieces together this year to get over that hump.”
In 26 matches this season, Castleberry has scored 85 goals and given up 13. The Lions ride a 12-game winning streak into the state championship and 10 straight shutouts – including 2-0 against Lake Dallas and Community. They haven’t allowed a goal since Feb. 21.
While Castleberry isn’t a part of Fort Worth ISD, the high school is in the city limits. It’s also a part of River Oaks, which is a suburban city within Fort Worth.
UIL boys soccer dates back to the early 1980s and only two teams from Fort Worth have made it.
Diamond Hill-Jarvis was the first in 2021, but the Eagles came up short in the 4A title game vs Boerne. Trimble Tech reached state the following season before ending its season in the 5A semifinals vs Frisco Wakeland.
No girls team from Fort Worth has reached the state final four.
