Castleberry boys will compete for Fort Worth’s first UIL soccer state title
Fort Worth isn’t known for producing soccer state champions.
Although the city has produced state finalists, there has never been a boys’ or girls’ soccer state champion from Cowtown. After a 2-0 state semifinal victory over Nevada Community, Castleberry (22-1-3) will have an opportunity to be Fort Worth’s first UIL soccer champion.
Castleberry will face Salado (23-3-3) in the Class 4A Division 2 state championship at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at Birkelbach Stadium in Georgetown.
If the Lions are victorious, they’ll also be the first boys soccer state champion from Tarrant County since 2011, when Southlake Carroll won a 5A title. The history-making opportunity comes in the inaugural year of the UIL’s split-division soccer playoffs, which doubled the amount of state championships and split playoff brackets based on enrollment within the top four teams from each district.
For Castleberry, one player to watch is senior forward Eddie Zapata, who scored a highlight-caliber goal against Community.
Another player to watch is goalkeeper Caleb Castaneda. The Lions haven’t allowed a goal in 10 games, and 18 of their 26 matches this season have been shutouts.
Castleberry, the District 8-4A champion, went undefeated in district play, only suffering a tie to Lake Dallas, a squad they would eventually eliminate in the regional finals.
Castleberry’s sole loss on the season came against Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis in nondistrict play. The Lions have outscored opponents 85-13, and in the playoffs, they defeated four teams by two or more goals: Fort Worth Western Hills, Life Waxahachie, Decatur and Lake Dallas.
The Salado Eagles, the District 24-4A champions, are looking for their first state championship. They’ve outscored opponents 112-23.
Salado advanced to the state championship after the UIL deemed that Progreso used an ineligible player. Progreso, previously an undefeated team with 30 wins, was forced to forfeit, and the state semifinal matchup was not played.
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