‘They should be proud’: Keller girls soccer comes up short in state championship
The Keller and Round Rock girls went blow for blow in their Class 6A Division I soccer state championship game on Saturday, both playing in their first title matches. When the dust finally settled, Round Rock came out with the gold by virture of a 3-1 win over the Indians at Birkelbach Field.
Keller head coach Jeff Simpson said the team originally didn’t believe it could make it to UIL soccer’s grandest stage.
“They built some belief from our experience last year, and they really just made a commitment as we hit the playoffs this year to accomplish what they did,” Simpson said. “And they made it all the way to the final finish line here. To cross the finish line just behind the other team was really unfortunate. ... The girls gave everything they had. ... But very proud of them to accomplish things that were beyond their own belief.”
Things looked up for Keller (22-5-1), which got on the board first in the 10th minute when Giulianna LaPuma gathered in a pass in front of the goal in heavy traffic. The sophomore danced around a bit, then a pass intended to go out was deflected right back to LaPuma, who spun left and blasted the loose ball to the back of the net from 10 yards out for a 1-0 lead.
The goal came on the heels of one of Round Rock’s best chances in the first half. Grace El-Deir had broken free down the left side and raced toward the goal in the 8th minute, but her shot was just wide left, hitting the side of the net.
It was a physical battle from the first whistle with a lot of contact and spills, leading to a handful of fouls, but no cards in front of a “home” crowd for Round Rock (22-2-4), which is just 13 miles south of Birkelbach Field.
The Dragons answered in the 20th minute when Audrey Redus provided a nice feed to El-Deir, who was wide open on the left side and buried it from 10 yards out.
The game was back and forth from that point until the 40th minute when a foul in the box was call on Keller. Aidan Hernandez took the penalty kick for the Dragons and beat Keller keeper Ava Johnston to the top right to take a 2-1 lead into the half.
“That’s just heartbreaking,” Simpson said. “Going into halftime there and trying to erase that from your memory, and focus on the new half. I think we calmed down. We were a little bit better in possession in the second half.”
The Indians had some chances in the second half, but could never come up with the equalizer. Round Rock put in the dagger in the 70th minute when Carlee Deegan flicked a pass to Hernandez, who made a nifty move to get free, then blasted a shot from 14 yards out, middle pitch, to give the Dragons a 3-1 lead.
Keller hasn’t won a state title with a field or court-based team sport (football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball or softball) since 2017’s softball title. Still, the girls soccer program made school history with its first title game appearance.
“They should be proud of everything they’ve accomplished,” Simpson said. “A lot of people in our own group didn’t know that we could do this. A lot of people on the outside didn’t expect it. But working with them, seeing their talent and ability level, and then seeing them perform more to what their true potential has always been to make this run — very, very proud of them.”
This story was originally published April 11, 2026 at 1:00 PM.
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