BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
MCKINNEY – Ella Gutierrez received a pass just outside of the box with a defender on her and the opposing goalkeeper leaving her mark looking to end a possession.
The Keller senior saw the goalkeeper running up to her and saw a little opening to the net.
Gutierrez finished off an assist by Caroline Kraftson – getting the shot past the keeper in the 93rd minute as the Indians beat Sachse 2-1 in overtime during a Class 6A D1 girls state semifinal at McKinney ISD Stadium.
“I saw the little opening in the corner and got it right in, thankfully,” Gutierrez said. “In my head the last 10 minutes I kept thinking, get the ball and score, get the ball and score.”
Keller (21-4-1) advances to the 6A D1 state championship game at 11 am Saturday April 11 from Birkelbach Field in Georgetown. The Indians will play Houston Summer Creek or Round Rock – with those two teams playing in the other semifinal on Friday night in Bryan.
It’s a historic champ game appearance for the Keller girls.
Thursday’s semifinal game matched the program’s deepest run as the Indians played in only one other state semifinal match in 2017, losing to eventual champ Pflugerville Hendrickson 1-nil in OT.
The championship berth is not only a first in program history, but a first for any soccer team in Keller ISD, boys and girls.
It was a pretty even match all around.
Keller had an early look to go up 1-0 as Claire Garritson had a 1v1 opportunity with Sachse keeper Sydney Miller. But Garritson’s shot went right to Miller, who was running up in the box – keeping it scoreless less than 5 minutes in to the match.
Sachse attempted a shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went right to Keller goalkeeper Ava Johnston.
After a scoreless first half, Keller scored in the 50th minute.
Gutierrez assisted on the score, which came from Katelyn Prichard from about 15 yards away to give the Indians 1-nil advantage.
But the Mustangs would get the equalizer in the 70th minute.
Kate McCallister found Emma Ramirez, who tied the game with a shot 20 yards out.
Gutierrez got one more look in the final seconds, but with 2-3 Sachse defenders on her, she couldn’t get the shot she wanted it as the ball floated right into the hands of Miller.
The Mustangs had an excellent look in the 85th minute during overtime, but the attempt went over the top of the crossbar.
Gutierrez gave Keller the lead with just over 7 minutes left in the second overtime period.
Sachse had one good look in the 96th minute with Clara Dowdle from 8 yards away, but Johnston was there for the save.
The Mustangs had 14 shot attempts and 10 on goal.
The Indians also had 14 shot attempts and 11 on goal.
Sachse ends 25-3 with its deepest playoff run in program history. It was the program’s first trip to the semifinals and first for any girls soccer team in Garland ISD. The Sachse boys in 2023 was the only other soccer team from GISD to make a Final Four.
