Photo: Celina senior midfielder Ryleigh Stifflemire celebrates a goal in the 50th minute vs Salado on Thursday, April 9 in the Class 4A D1 title match in Georgetown
By Brian Gosset
X – @gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
GEORGETOWN – There was a lot of pressure on Cody Moles when he came over to the girls soccer side during the off-season, having coached the boys team the past several years.
He was taking over a girls soccer team at Celina that won 4-straight UIL state championships and won 110 matches in that span under Alexander Adams, who left for Keller Timber Creek.
But behind 2 goals in the second half, 1 on an own goal, Celina continued the dynasty 2-1 over Salado in the Class 4A D1 championship on Thursday at Birkelbach Field.
Celina (26-1-1) secured its fifth straight state title.
The Bobcats have reached at least the state semifinals in 6 consecutive seasons.
Senior Ryleigh Stifflemire capped off a sensational high school career with 4 titles and 2 MVP honors. The Celina midfielder was voted state champ MVP for the second straight season.
Last season, Stifflemire had 1 assist and the game-winning goal in the 63rd minute as the Bobcats beat San Antonio Davenport, also by the same score of 2-1.
Both games were similar as Davenport (last season) and Salado held 1-0 leads before Celina scored 2 to complete the comeback.
Celina had 7 shots in the first half against 2 for Salado (27-2), which was at state for the fifth time and looking for the program’s first title.
Despite having the edge in shots in the opening 40 minutes, the game remained scoreless at the intermission.
It only took 64 seconds into the second half for Salado to grab a 1-0 lead.
Celina’s Harper Castillo was hit with a yellow card and had to go to the bench and the Eagles took advantage with the Bobcats down a player. Shortly after, Lucy Johnson drilled in the goal with the assist by Cassidy Lange in the 42nd minute.
The shots kept coming for Celina, which added 7 more after the half.
Salado’s second half goalkeeper Channing Finch was busy for the final 40 minutes with 5 saves.
In the 50th minute, Stifflemire beat a Salado player for the ball and booted a try from about 30 yards away that scored in the upper left corner for a 1-1 tie.
The Bobcats kept attacking and got a bit of luck in the 68th minute.
Stifflemire pushed the possession with the ball on the right side of the box when she sent a cross to the middle of the goal. Salado senior Kinsey Yawn was about 10 feet from the goal line when the ball went off her and into the back of the net for a Celina 2-1 lead.
Celina finished with 14 shots against 3 for Salado.
Celina keeper Emme Norman made 2 saves.
