Midlothian Heritage hangs on to down Celina; Grapevine loses lead vs. Frisco Wakeland
Midlothian Heritage 1, Celina 0
A goal in the 16th minute from senior Hannah Dorsey proved to be the difference maker as the Jaguars beat the Bobcats in a Class 4A state semifinal Tuesday at Dragon Stadium in Southlake.
Heritage (26-1), which won the 2018 state title, returns to the championship game Friday morning at 10 a.m. in Georgetown to play Corpus Christi Calallen (23-1), which beat Salado 3-2.
The Jaguars only got one goal, but held the Bobcats (24-2-1) scoreless, including Taylor Zdrojewski who had a state single season record 114 goals.
“We knew that she’s a really good player and we’ve seen good players. Two years ago we let a girl beat us and we weren’t going to let that happen again,” MHHS coach Gerald Slovacek said.
Zdrojewski came in having scored in every game and multiple goals in all but one contest. She scored seven goals two rounds ago in the regional semifinal.
Senior Rachel Allen shadowed Zdrojewski all game long.
“Rachel stepped up and along with our other defenders, we had a great game plan for her. They were phenomenal,” Slovacek said. “Rachel is so unselfish, she volunteered to mark that girl. Total team effort and we battled our tail off. It took us out of our attack a little, but we sacrificed that to make sure she didn’t score.”
Zdrojewski had two good looks in the second half first on a 35-yard free kick after she was taken down with a foul, but her attempt sailed well high over the goal in the 62nd minute.
Her second chance came in the 70th minute, but the Jaguars double teamed her. Zdrojewski still managed to get a shot off that went wide right of the goal.
“I said I’d gladly do it,” said Allen on her decision to defend Zdrojewski. “Someone had to do it and I know as a team we can all score and I know we can all defend.”
Allen was voted MVP of the 4A title game in 2018 as a freshman.
The Jaguars scored when Brynn Pollock crossed the ball to Dorsey about 10 yards from the goal. Dorsey struck the assist into the Celina goalie, but she couldn’t secure it allowing Dorsey to poke the rebound into the back of the net.
Celina had another opportunity late in the first half when Madi Vana dribbled to near the 15-yard line and booted a strike, but Heritage goal keeper Jaedyn Barela punched the ball over the net.
“During warmups the coaches were telling me their goalie was patting it down every time so just to follow every shot. Shoutout to coach Floyd for telling me. It worked,” said Dorsey of her goal.
Both teams came in allowing 11 goals all year.
Celina was in the semis for the first time in program history.
Frisco Wakeland 3, Grapevine 2
The Grapevine girls soccer team took an early lead, but in the end it was too much McKenna Jenkins from Frisco Wakeland. Jenkins scored two goals and added an assist as the Wolverines advanced to the Class 5A state title game Tuesday night at Bronco Field.
Wakeland (20-2-3) will face Dripping Springs (26-1-1) in the championship game at 2 p.m. on Friday at Birkelbach Field on the campus of Georgetown High School.
Dripping Springs scored in the 79th minute to down Friendswood 1-0.
“We had a lot of adversity this year with injuries and what not and I couldn’t be more proud of my kids,” said Grapevine coach Steve McBride. “They left it on the field today. The last thing I said was that no matter what, go out on your shield and they definitely did that.”
Grapevine (23-3-2) controlled the game early and broke through in the 13th minute when Theresa McCullough slipped a pass to Kasten Merrill. A defender poked the ball away, but Merrill gathered in the rebound and, all in one motion, rolled the ball past the Wakeland goalkeeper from 14 yards out.
The Mustangs made it 2-0 in the 17th minute. McCullough started a controlled corner kick and, after getting the ball back, made a perfect cross to Samantha Larsen who headed it in from nine yards out.
But an adjustment from Wakeland coach Jimmie Lankford gave the Wolverines a spark.
Allie Perry made a perfect 45-yard pass to Jenkins who was racing down the left center of the pitch. Jenkins chipped the ball to the left to avoid the Grapevine keeper then booted it home to cut the lead to 2-1 in the 31st minute.
“When they stretched us out vertically and horizontally it caused us problems,” said McBride. “Giving up that late goal in the first half was a killer for us. He made an adjustment and we had a little mental lapse. They’re so great on the counter and you have to be wary of that.”
Wakeland continued to push in the second half scoring twice in an eight-minute span.
Jenkins ran past three Grapevine defenders and her cross to Brooke Hartshorn was just missed by Hartshorn from 10 yards. But a terrific hustle play by Kayden Amador resulted in a goal. Amador raced to the right to corral the missed cross and centered it back to Jenkins right on the goal line who chipped it in five minutes into the second half.
On another break away in the 53rd minute, Jenkins made a perfect cross to Perry who buried it for a 3-2 lead.
“Jimmie does a great job of organizing his team and he changes his system around to play match ups that benefit his group,” said McBride. “Unfortunately we didn’t match up well when they made some changes structurally and that’s a credit to them.
“We just didn’t have the ball enough in the second half and when we did we gave it away too cheaply at times. It was just a great game plan and execution by them.”
Grapevine applied plenty of pressure late in the game, but just couldn’t crack Wakeland goalkeeper Drew Stover.
“Overall just to see them mature into the young women that they are and the growth that they’ve shown,” said McBride who graduates the smallest senior class he’s ever had. “That’s what I’m going to remember. Their resiliency, their toughness and their commitment to being here every day and giving their best effort.”
This story was originally published April 14, 2021 at 1:13 AM.