This Fort Worth-area school’s boys, girls soccer teams are both undefeated
Southlake Carroll boys and girls soccer tends to have some of the Fort Worth area’s heaviest hitters in Class 6A, and the 2026 season has been no exception.
Neither squad has lost this season, and both seized bi-district round victories over Mansfield Legacy on Friday at Crowley ISD Stadium. The Carroll girls (23-0-1) won 9-1, while the boys (15-0-8) won 3-1.
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In the Class 6A Division II area round, the Carroll boys will face El Paso Montwood at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Lubbock Cooper Stadium. The girls will face Wolfforth Frenship at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Abilene Christian University.
Southlake Carroll girls aim to avenge loss
When a team has been to the regional finals 13 times, it’s safe to say the program has a very strong history of success. The Carroll girls have won three titles, with the latest in 2022, and are led by head coach Matt Colvin, who has over 500 career victories.
“It starts with the community,” Colvin said. “Doesn’t matter what sport it is — our community supports it. And we’re blessed to have unbelievable talent come through.”
In recent years, the Dragons have been dominant, winning five consecutive district titles. The 2026 regular season was one of their strongest yet, with a 16-0 district record and a No. 2 Class 6A state ranking from the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
“I think this group really trusts each other,” Colvin said. “And they understand that if they want to reach their ultimate goal, it has to be together. And not just a player doing it.”
The team has a ton of momentum, but so did last year’s squad — the 2025 season came to a sudden end with a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Wolfforth Frenship in the area round. One year later, the Dragons will face Frenship again, and Colvin said he wants to focus on the aspects of the game the team can control.
Part of that is executing the defensive game plan. The team has scored 124 goals while conceding only four. Colvin said he preaches the importance of transitioning to defense; the last goal allowed was Feb. 6 against Keller Central.
Players leading the charge include senior Peyton Hayes, who is an all-around contributor with 37 goals this season. In the bi-district round against Legacy, she scored four goals.
“She tore her ACL her sophomore year,” Colvin said. “And then she got newcomer of the year. Now she is a leader in the area in assists, and she is up there in goals. … She is an unbelievable teammate and a great leader. Everyone respects her on the field. … She is a player who knows how to incorporate everyone.”
Another top player is Caroline Holcomb, who also has a strong mix of abilities. Colvin said she is a dynamic athlete with great pace who can get behind the defense and win one-on-ones.
Holcomb and Hayes are two of many who power Carroll’s success. Colvin emphasized the importance of teamwork moving forward. The program’s last state title came in 2022.
“It’s about playing our game,” Hayes said. “Keeping the ball on the ground, talking to each other, and remembering the foundation of what we stand for and what we believe in. … We have to take it one game at a time. We always talk about 200 feet. And just hitting each goal along the road.”
Carroll boys aim to be contenders
Southlake Carroll made a run to the regional finals last season, getting close to its first boys soccer state title since 2011 and third in program history.
The team has been improving under head coach Chris Padilla, and this season has arguably been his best yet, with the team winning a district title without a loss. They’re the sole undefeated Fort Worth-area Class 6A program and have potential for another deep run.
“It’s a group that loves each other,” Padilla said. “They have a really strong bond and a relationship. When you get into the playoffs, everyone is good at soccer. Everyone is technical. Everyone understands the game. But the teams that make deep runs are the ones with really strong bonds.”
Although Carroll has earned the undefeated label, the team does have eight ties. Although those games didn’t have the ideal outcome, they do show that the team can fight in close games.
“Some of those games we fought our way back after being down,” Padilla said. “Some came down to conceding goals late. But either way, they are lessons that allow us to be prepared for these moments in the postseason.”
Against Legacy, they were led by Jad Shehadeh, who tallied two goals to bring his total to 23 on the season. Offensively, he has led the charge.
Another key player to watch is John Skiermont, who has scored 20 goals this season. Padilla called him a dynamic, exceptional athlete with strong breakaway speed and a good first touch.
With Montwood on deck, Padilla wants to see his defense tighten things up — the goal is always a clean sheet. But at the end of the day, he said, surviving and advancing in any way possible is the main focus.
“We need to control the controllables and make sure we don’t lose our heads when we face adversity,” Skiermont said.
With district titles, both teams will help Carroll in its quest for the Class 6A Lone Star Cup, awarded to Texas’ top-performing school in district and state championships. As of March 20, Carroll sits in first place with 96 points.
“It’s the parents and the community,” Padilla said. “It’s having a group that is bought in, and wants to see our athletes be successful. From kindergarten Dragons to here, there is a lot of pride at this school, and it just makes Southlake special.”
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