Senior scores four goals as Grapevine Faith completes TAPPS girls soccer three-peat
It’s a dynasty.
The Grapevine girls soccer team scored within the first nine minutes and never wavered, beating Austin St. Michael’s, 7-1, in the TAPPS D2 state championship on Friday at Round Rock Multipurpose Complex.
The Lions (17-2) complete the three-peat and secure the program’s fourth title in five years.
“The only one I knew was going to give us an issue was number 19 [Kennedy Hill] and I made sure my defense would clean her up. We took care of it and I had no worry whatsoever that we weren’t going to win this game,” said Faith coach Cat Meyer, who’s been at the helm for all four championships.
It didn’t take long to see that Faith had the stronger offense as the Lions got a shot on goal in the second minute that bounced off the right post. The ball would dribble off a St. Michael’s defender, setting up a Faith corner.
Senior forward/midfielder Annie Severide (a Dallas Baptist signee) stole a ball from a St. Michael’s defender and shot it past the diving goal keeper to give Faith a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute.
Severide, who also scored in last year’s title game win over San Antonio Christian, would score three more times. Faith also picked up goals from senior Macy Naughton, senior Kathleen Kunkel and junior Maya Cosby.
“The first thing I can think of is all the glory goes to God. He gave us the ability to play soccer and be great at soccer,” said Severide, who goes out a three-time champ. “It hasn’t set in yet, but it’s very cool and I’m very thankful.”
Faith grabbed a 2-0 lead in the 22nd minute when Cosby assisted on Naughton’s goal. Naughton, who also scored in last year’s final, booted it with her left foot over the St. Michael’s keeper.
“I knew this would be my last game ever and I’ve been working for this and I’m thankful for my team,” said Naughton, also a three-time champ who shared the moment with younger sister Marley. “Basically Maya was going down the sideline and played a through ball. I dribbled around a player and curved it in.
“We watched film yesterday and St. Michael’s looked very good so we knew we had to come out strong.”
Leading 2-0 at intermission, the Lions extended the lead to 3-0 in the 52nd minute on Severide’s second goal of the day. Severide picked up the hat trick on a Cosby assist in the 55th minute.
Faith took control of the ensuing kickoff and scored a minute later on Kunkel’s goal.
Cosby got a goal when her first shot attempt went off the St. Michael’s keeper and she booted in the deflection to give the Lions a 6-0 advantage with 13 minutes left to play.
Severide capped off her career withhe fourth goal with nine minutes remaining.
“I would say this year’s sweet only because it’s my senior year and there’s not a next year,” Severide said. “But they can go get a four-peat and I believe they can do that. The seniors this year are just walking off the field and giving all the glory to God.”
Kunkel finished the day with three assists and Cosby added two as Faith extends its playoff winning streak to 12 games. The Lions will graduate six seniors.
“There wasn’t that much difference between this year’s group and last year’s. We moved some things around and graduated two, but we came in with such a strong junior and sophomore class,” Meyer said. “They’re about the same neck and neck on quality. It’d be fun to put those two teams on the field and make them play each other.”
This story was originally published March 5, 2021 at 1:11 PM.
