Keller girls soccer reaches first title game; Indians prevail in OT over Sachse

Keller’s Ella Gutierrez scored in the 93rd minute, just into the second overtime period, as the Indians survived Sachse 2-1 in a Class 6A Division I state semifinal on Thursday at McKinney ISD Stadium.

It’s the first time a Keller ISD soccer team, girls or boys, has advanced to a title game. Keller (22-4-1) will face the winner of Friday’s match between Houston Summer Creek (21-5-2) and Round Rock (20-2-4) for the championship at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11, at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.

Gutierrez took a long feed in stride from Caroline Kraftson and raced down the pitch. Mustangs goalkeeper Sydney Miller came out to meet Gutierrez, but the senior punched it just past Miller for what proved to be the game-winner.

“That was insane,” Gurierrez said of the late goal. “I was up top and was like, get the ball and score, get the ball and score. Thankfully that happened. I love playing with my teammates. They’re incredible players.”

Sachse (25-3-0) had a golden chance to tie the game for a second time in the 96th minute when Oregon signee Clara Dowdle had a chance, point blank, from 8 yards out that Keller keeper Ava Johnston made an outstanding save on.

“It was a big moment, and I knew that there was a lot on the line,” Johnston said of the save. “I just really wanted to do what’s good for our team and I made the save and dove out. It was a big relief.”

Keller looked to be in good shape after Katelyn Prichard punched in a goal from 13 yards out when Miller, again, came out to defend and Prichard slipped it past her and into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Gutierrez was credited with an assist on the goal that came in the 50th minute. The Indians looked to have scored again in the 69th minute when Gutierrez punched it in from 8 yards out, but the goal was nullified as Gutierrez was ruled to be offsides.

“That’s definitely what we needed,” Keller coach Jeff Simpson said of the goal to break the scoreless tie. “I really think that we had a second one that got called back and that was before they scored, so being up 2-0 would have made a world of difference.

“Instead it became just a battle all the way through the last minute and that overtime.”

Sachse countered in the 70th minute when a loose ball in front was tapped by Oklahoma signee Kate McCallister over to Emma Ramirez, who torched it to the bottom right to tie the game 1-1.

The first half was an even, nil-nil draw. Keller had a golden chance early when Claire Garritson, a UT-San Antonio signee, lined a shot from 10 yards out off the crossbar in the second minute.

The rebound came to Guilianna LaPuma for the Indians, but her shot was saved by Miller in goal. Sachse led the Indians in shots in the first half 6-4 (3-3 on goal), but the game was close throughout. Both teams finished with 14 shots, 11 on goal for Keller and 10 for Sachse.

The Mustangs got a scare in the 29th minute when McCallister had to leave the pitch due to a medical issue. McCallister returned later in the first half with a bright orange wrap on her thigh and looked no worse for wear.

“I graduated from Keller, so this really means a lot,” Simpson, in his second year at the helm, said. “I’m super thankful that they get to have this experience. I’m looking forward to just one more game, one more game next week.”

“Out of all of Keller we’re the first team to make it to state, so we’re breaking history records right now,” Gutierrez said. “It feels amazing to play my last game of soccer ever and hopefully go out as a state champ.”

This story was originally published April 2, 2026 at 11:39 PM.