Frisco Wakeland boys capture 5A state soccer title with nail-biter over Kingwood Park
After dropping the UIL Class 5A state championship in 2019, the Frisco Wakeland boys soccer team is back on top following a 3-2 decision over Kingwood Park on Saturday at Birkelbach Field.
Frisco Wakeland (24-1-1) wins its fourth state title in program history and third in the last five postseasons. The playoffs were canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The first championship came in 2010 when it beat Kingwood Park, 2-0, in a shootout.
The Panthers (26-3-2) were making their third trip to state, but first since 2011.
The Wolverines scored in the eighth minute when Marlon Williams crossed the ball to Brennan Bezdek, voted MVP, who booted an attempt to the far post for the 1-nil lead.
Nine minutes after halftime, Kingwood Park scored the equalizer when a Trey Ricker corner kick went through the box and found Andrew Guerra, who squeezed the ball into the goal.
But it wasn’t tied for long as Wakeland went ahead 2-1 on Micah Kelley’s goal from 20 yards to finish off a Williams’ assist. Six minutes later, the lead grew to 3-1 on a Bezdek to Jak Keith goal, also from 20 yards out.
KP cut the lead back to one in the 74th minute on Guerra’s second goal of the day. Guerra was able to dribble through two Wakeland defenders and beat the goalkeeper.
Each team had two yellow cards, three corners and five saves.
Wakeland had the edge in shots (11-8) and shots on goal (8-7).
This story was originally published April 17, 2021 at 5:31 PM.
