Soccer playoffs: South Hills star ends amazing career, Carroll teams romp
UIL soccer playoffs started Thursday night, and the Burleson Centennial girls put up a strong defensive effort to eliminate Fort Worth South Hills and their record-breaking forward Esmeralda Gonzales.
The Spartans won 5-1, but Gonzales did get the lone Scorpions goal.
“Esmie” Gonzales ends her career with 316 goals, 109 this season.
The Southeast Missouri State signee broke the 24-year-old record of 286 goals on March 3 in a home match against Fort Worth Trimble Tech. The previous mark had been held by Erin Martin of Temple City, Calif., since 1992.
Burleson Centennial 5, Fort Worth South Hills 1
Why Centennial won: Junior midfielder Chelsie Rodriguez scored once in each half as the Spartans beat the Scorpions 5-1.
Key players: Rodriguez scored the first goal off a rebound that hit the crossbar. The Spartans’ second goal came off a Lindsey Beckrich corner kick that Hanna Mattinson headed home.
Key stat: South Hills senior Esmie Gonzales, the all-time national goal scoring leader, got the Scorpions goal.
Records: Centennial 16-5-3, South Hills 18-6.
Southlake Carroll 10, South Grand Prairie 0
Why Southlake Carroll won: The Dragons overwhelmed South Grand Prairie in a Class 6A opening-round playoff match, scoring five goals in an 11-minute span en route to a 7-0 halftime lead.
Key players: Grace Cory had a hat trick for Carroll to become the school’s all-time points (goals plus assists ) leader. Neaka Khalilian, Ally Griffin and Allie Luna each added a pair of goals.
Key stat: With Carroll dominating possession, South Grand Prairie managed just four shots, with two on goal.
Records: Carroll 23-1-0; SGP 8-10-1
Grapevine 3, Saginaw Boswell 1
Why Grapevine won: Senior Tori Sledge’s sixth goal of the season came from 25 yards out, breaking a 1-1 tie in the 59th minute to help the Mustangs claim their 10th bi-district title in 16 years.
Key players: Senior Jordan Slim gave Grapevine a 1-0 lead with her 16th goal, and freshman Ashton Wright scored her 11th.
Key stats: Grapevine senior goalkeeper Katy Hutson only had four saves, but none bigger against a Boswell penalty kick with 3 seconds left in the first half.
Records: Grapevine 15-6-3; Boswell 13-8-3
BOYS
Southlake Carroll 2, Midlothian 0
Why Southlake Carroll won: Leading 1-0 and both teams reduced to 10 players, Anthony Anderson got a slight touch to Nat Kajiwara’s service to give the Dragons a two-goal lead.
Key players: Kajiwara opened the scoring in the 21st minute and added the assist in the second half. Calvin Herd was active for the Dragons and created several opportunities..
Key stat: The Dragons outshot Midlothian 11-3 in the first half and the Panthers managed just four shots on goal in the match.
Records: Southlake Carroll 16-4-4; Midlothian 13-4-6
Grapevine 2, Azle 0
Why Grapevine won: The Mustangs scored once in each half, and the 2-0 deficit was too much for Azle as District 6-5A champion Grapevine won its second consecutive 5A bi-district title.
Key players: Ian Arendse set up Chad Sahinkaya and Sahinkaya slotted the ball inside the right post for his 23rd goal of the season to give Grapevine a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute. Mustangs teammate August Bergjans scored in the 50th minute.
Key stat: The Mustangs outshot Azle 12-5.
Records: Grapevine 13-8-2; Azle 8-10-7
Staff writer Brian Gosset and correspondent Ricky Moore contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 12:15 AM with the headline "Soccer playoffs: South Hills star ends amazing career, Carroll teams romp."