Playing in her only season, K-State commit helps Flower Mound girls to 6A state title
Riley Baker didn’t play her first three seasons while at Flower Mound High School. She was involved in the Developmental Academy. But Baker had the opportunity this season to play with the Jaguars.
She made the most of it and completed a dream season.
The Kansas State commit and FM senior scored two goals, including the game-winner in the 66th minute as Flower Mound held off Austin Vandegrift, 2-1, in the UIL Class 6A state championship at Birkelbach Field.
Flower Mound (24-1-2) wins its second state title in as many appearances (2016). Austin Vandegrift (18-4-2) was looking for its second trophy in four trips to the final.
The Jaguars had the heavy advantage with the wind behind them during the first half. They had 10 corner kicks overall with a 4-1 edge coming in the opening 40 minutes.
However, both teams battled on defense that saw a scoreless tie at intermission.
The Vipers had two good looks in the 13th minute, but a 35-yard kick hit the top post. The deflection came to another Viper, but her attempt sailed high.
Flower Mound also had a chance to take a 1-nil lead, but Vandegrift keeper Libby Brooker made the stops needed. She would finish with five saves overall.
After halftime and the wind behind the Vipers, it was actually Flower Mound that gained momentum first.
Baker, voted MVP, scored in the 54th minute with a chip over Brooker. Hallie Augustyn served one up to junior Texas A&M commit Sydney Becerra who headed the pass to the running Baker for the score.
But the lead wasn’t for long as the Vipers tied it two minutes later on a beauty from Lily Spencer who took a pass from Meg Hildner and booted it from 30 yards out.
Then the teams went into a small deadlock until the Becerra-Baker connection was good again in the 65th minute. Becerra hit a through ball to Baker who beat Brooker one-on-one from 10 yards away.
Peyton Whipple, signed to Arkansas, only had one save which came late to help preserve the win for the Jags.
Flower Mound held the advantage in shots 11-5 and shots on goal 7-2.
The girls season wrapped up on Friday in Georgetown with two titles going back to Dallas-Fort Worth. Midlothian Heritage won the 4A title. Frisco Wakeland fell short against Dripping Springs in 5A.
This story was originally published April 16, 2021 at 8:34 PM.
