Ariana Arias and the Sachse girls soccer team defeated The Woodlands 2-0 in a Region II-6A Division I Semifinal on Friday in Jacksonville. Photo by Tina Lopez / C&S Media
By David Wolman
After coaches for Sachse and The Woodlands chatted to determine location of last Friday’s Region II-6A Division I Semifinal, Lady Mustangs head girls soccer coach Kristen Campbell said her players couldn’t wait to get back to the Tomato Bowl in Jacksonville, the site of last year’s season-ending 1-0 loss to the Highlanders in the regional final.
Nearly one year to the date, Sachse not only scored after being shut out last year, but held The Woodlands off the scoreboard in a 2-0 win.
“It was such a good game,” Campbell said. “It was a great feeling to go back to the Tomato Bowl and beat them this time. The girls were ecstatic.”
The Woodlands came out the aggressor, but Sachse found its rhythm as the first half moved along.
The Lady Mustangs built off that strong play and dominated in possession and chances during the second half. Sachse struck the ball off the crossbar at least twice, Campbell said, while the Highlanders’ goalkeeper made a few crucial saves to keep the game tied 0-0.
The game remained scoreless until a rush up the field with seven minutes left led to a breakthrough for Sachse.
Kate McCallister dribbled the ball up the field with tremendous speed. A few defenders from The Woodlands eventually surrounded her, but the Oklahoma commit spotted Lia Lopez wide open. McCallister passed to Lopez, who scored after receiving the pass at the six-yard line for a 1-0 Lady Mustangs lead.
“Kate worked her butt off to set up that chance,” Campbell said. “They thought that Kate was going to try and dribble around them and beat them, but she found Lia at the last second. It was a very smart play by Kate.”
Sachse fed off the momentum that Lopez’s goal gave the team.
Three minutes after Lopez’ tally, senior Clara Dowdle, an Oregon signee who was playing in her second straight game after missing the previous five weeks with an ankle injury, added an insurance goal for a 2-0 Sachse lead.
“The second goal was almost like a blur because we had so much energy and excitement from the first goal,” Campbell said. “It was almost like we were on a power play in hockey. We were pushing the ball up the field, and Clara saw an open window and took the shot. She has come up clutch for us the last couple of games. She had a PK in the previous game and scored again Friday. She’s not 100 percent, but she and the seniors didn’t want their season to end. She’s a tough kid.”
Sachse will play Grand Oaks in the regional final, set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown. Grand Oaks defeated Wylie 1-0, also Friday night.
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