Westlake girls to play for Class 6A soccer state title after topping Rockwall 1-0
GEORGETOWN — Sophia Martin’s gut instinct paid off.
Martin, Westlake’s sophomore goalkeeper who has played the position for only two years, blocked a penalty kick late in the first half Friday after her hunch told her to dive to her right.
And while it might not have ultimately won the game for the Chaps in their 1-0 victory over Rockwall in a Class 6A semifinal at Birkelbach Field — AJ Carlson’s goal in the 70th minute was the difference — it was the most important play.
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“I knew previously that (Rockwall’s penalty-taker) was a left-footed shooter, so once I saw her line up with her right, I had a feeling she was hooking it to her left as that was her nondominant,” Martin said. “I took that guess, and it was right. And making that save was just an amazing feeling.”
The block gave momentum to Westlake going into halftime, and the Chaps generally had the better run of play in the second half.
“That could have been a totally different outcome and different game if that ball goes in,” Westlake coach Darci Carruthers said. “Sophia just rises to the occasion. … She’s a huge reason why we are where we are at this season. We’ve had this success because we’ve had her in the cage back there shutting it down.”
The Chaps (17-4-2) might not have had the bulk of possession in the first half, but the game was evenly played.
Westlake was solid defensively the entire contest, and senior forward Kate Grannis came through with a brilliant run to set up the only goal.
Grannis beat several defenders off the dribble on the right side of the box, and though she could have taken a shot herself, she laid it off to a wide-open Carlson near the penalty spot.
Carlson had enough time to settle the ball and blast it past the Yellowjackets’ goalie.
“Kate got the ball there and did a lot of the work, and I was just open in the box,” said Carlson, who is one of the better players in the Austin area and has started for Westlake since her freshman year. “Once the ball got to my feet, it was just habit.”
The Chaps will play Prosper (24-2-2) at 4 p.m. Saturday for a state title for the first time since 1996, and though Westlake is loaded with talented players, Martin just might be the team’s X-factor.
“She’s been working hard all season, and she deserved that save, and we’re really proud of her,” Carlson said. “To be able to play for a state title means a lot because of how much work we’ve been putting in. Every single player on this team is really deserving of everything that has happened to us.”
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UIL state soccer tournament
Birkelbach Field, Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex. Tickets: $35 all-tournament, $15 single game
Wednesday: Class 4A girls semifinals — Celina 3, Lumberton 1; Boerne 2, Salado 1 (OT); Class 4A boys semifinals — Boerne 1, Kilgore 0; San Elizario 1, Navasota 0 (OT)
Thursday: Class 5A girls semifinals — Colleyville Heritage 4, Hendrickson 1; Frisco Wakeland 0, Rouse 0 (4-2); Class 4A girls final — Celina 1, Boerne 0; Class 5A boys semifinals — Frisco Wakeland 2, Glenn 0; Midlothian 3, Baytown Goose Creek Memorial 0
Friday: Class 6A girls semifinals — Westlake 1, Rockwall 0; Prosper 3, Katy Seven Lakes 0; Class 4A boys final — Boerne vs. San Elizario, late; Class 6A boys semifinals — Katy Seven Lakes vs. Duncanville, late.; Vandegrift vs. Lewisville Flower Mound, late
Saturday: Class 5A girls: Colleyville Heritage (23-0-2) vs. Frisco Wakeland (24-0-2), 11 a.m.; Class 5A boys: Frisco Wakeland (18-5-3) vs. Modlothian (23-2-3), 1:30 p.m.; Class 6A girls: Westlake (17-4-2) vs. Prosper (24-2-2), 4 p.m.; Class 6A boys: TBA vs. TBA, 6:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Westlake girls top Rockwall, will play for UIL state soccer title
