UIL State Soccer Roundup, Day 3: Hidalgo boys take Class 4A crown; Marcus girls win

The Hidalgo boys soccer team scored three goals in the first 20 minutes of the first half as the Pirates blanked Palestine 3-0 in the Class 4A state championship game on Friday at Birkelbach Field.

It was the second state title for Hidalgo (29-7-3) in three state tournament appearances. The Pirates lost in the semifinals in 2007 and won it all in 2009.

Hidalgo wasted little time as Reynaldo Cantu gathered in a deflected ball in the box, spun to his right to get some space and fired a low, left-footed, laser past the Palestine goalkeeper from 15 yards out to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead in the 2nd minute.

Cantu added to the lead two minutes later taking a free kick from just inside the right sideline from 10 yards out. The senior, who was named the championship game Most Valuable Player, fired another blast that made it past the dive of the keeper, just inside the right post.

Hidalgo dominated play out shooting the Wildcats 10-3. Palestine (31-2-1) did not get a shot on goal in the game and committed 20 fouls in the contest. All three of the Pirates’ shots on goal went in.

Cantu assisted in the Pirates final goal in the 19th minute taking a pass from Ailton Cardenas then chipping it to Joaquin Rosales who was crossing from right to left behind Cantu. Rosales dribbled then fired a shot from 25 yards out that found the top left corner of the net, just out of the reach of the Palestine keeper.

Palestine was seeking its second state championship with the first coming in 2016. The Wildcats have reached the state tournament five times and this was the third appearance in a championship game.

CLASS 6A GIRLS STATE SEMIFINALS

Flower Mound Marcus 4, Round Rock Westwood 0

Flower Mound Marcus got two goals each from Bella Campos and Madi Patterson as the Marauders rolled past Round Rock Westwood 4-0 in a Class 6A state semifinal on Friday at Birkelbach Field.

Marcus (25-1-1), who ousted No. 1 Southlake Carroll on an own goal in the Region I final, is making its seventh trip to the state tournament and fourth appearance in the championship round. The Marauders will try to win their second state title when they meet Missouri City Ridge Point (24-0-5) at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Ridge Point defeated Wylie East 4-3 in overtime.

Marcus opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Caroline Castans sent a cross from 40 yards out that found Campos who headed in a one-timer from 10 yards out. The shot went just out of the reach of Notre Dame bound goalkeeper Atlee Olofson of Westwood (13-5-8) before it hit the right post and trickled in.

Campos put the Marauders up 2-0 six minutes into the second half on a penalty kick after getting fouled in the box. Campos blasted it to the left side, just past the dive of Olofson.

Patterson’s first goal came in the 61st minute to up the lead to 3-0.

Chloe Adams took a free kick from five yards inside the sideline, 35 yards out. Her boot was just tipped by Olofson right to Patterson who was flying in towards the goal and headed it in.

Patterson scored again in the 71st minute on a corner kick from Castans. The try found Patterson unmarked in front of goal.

Marcus out shot Westwood 13-4 with 10 shots on goal for the Marauders.

Missouri City Ridge Point 4, Wylie East 3 OT

Missouri City Ridge Point scored two goals in the second overtime to eliminate Wylie East 4-3 in a Class 6A state semifinal on Friday.

Ridge Point (24-0-5) will play for its first state title when they meet Flower Mound Marcus (25-1-1) at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Panthers lost to Rockwall 4-2 in overtime in the semis last season in their first state tournament appearance.

Wylie East (28-1-0) was attempting to reach its third title game in as many state tournament appearances. The Raiders made it to back-to-back championship games in 2014 and 2015, winning the second time.

Wylie East took a 3-2 lead on an own goal by Ridge Point in the 85th minute in the first overtime period. Amaya Dawkins’ corner kick went in after Ridge Point keeper Molly Thompson collided with Thaleia Caldwell who was guarding the near post.

But the Panthers rallied in the second 10-minute overtime period. Charlotte Richardson tied the game just 50 seconds in from 20 yards out.

Camryn Letellier scored the game winner in the 97th minute punching in a cross from Dayo Tennyson.

The Raiders had only allowed five goals all season.

The Panthers jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a Hannah Warnken goal in the 20th minute, assisted by Tennyson and a goal by Tennison in the 34th minute from Letellier.

Ryleigh Wood cut the lead to 2-1 less than a minute later when she tapped in a pass from Dawkins.

The Raiders tied the game 2-2 in the 58th minute on a free kick by Alysia Cano. The try found Bryn Geppert who headed the ball from 12 yards out and lofted it just over the reach of Thompson.

CLASS 6A BOYS STATE SEMIFINALS

Katy Seven Lakes 3, Sachse 1 OT

Katy Seven Lakes scored two goals in overtime to defeat Sachse 3-1 in a Class 6A state semifinal on Friday.

Seven Lakes (27-1-1), who lost to Plano in the semifinals a year ago in its first state tournament appearance, will try to claim its first state championship when the Spartans take on Dripping Springs (15-11-2) at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Seven Lakes scored first in the 13th minute when a corner kick by Aidan Morrison wasn’t cleared and Hunter Merritt headed it in for a 1-0 lead.

Sachse (21-7-0), making its first tournament appearance, tied the game in the 61st minute when Lucas Story headed in a goal assisted by Cooper Tea who had lofted a cross to the far post.

But Seven Lakes scored twice in just over a one-minute span in the first overtime period to take the wind out of Sachse’s sails.

A free kick from 60 yards out from Morrison found Merritt who got free behind the defense then beat the keeper to make it 2-1. Alexis Matute scored on a cross from Abdullah Soliman in the 87th minute to put the game away.

Dripping Springs 2, Allen 1 SO (5-3)

Dripping Springs and Allen ended regulation and overtime tied 1-1, but the Tigers scored on all five penalty shots in the shootout, the final one by Joey Svoboda, to oust Allen 2-1 (5-3) in a Class 6A state semifinal on Friday.

Dripping Springs (15-11-2) will try to win its first state championship when the Tigers face Katy Seven Lakes (27-1-1) at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. Dripping Springs, in its third tournament appearance, lost in the Class 5A title game to Frisco Wakeland last season.

Allen (18-3-5) opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Osiramah Salem Iyama slipped a pass to Sebastian Sastoque on the right side. Dripping Springs keeper Lucas Perez came out to challenge Sastoque who crossed it to Even Pustejovsky. A Tigers’ defender couldn’t check Pustejovsky who punched it in from 7 yards out.

York Merrill evened the game in the 17th minute with a goal assisted by Mason Russell.

Allen was forced into shootouts in three of its final four games. The Eagles have now failed to reach a championship game in two appearances at state. Allen also lost in the semifinals in 2021.

This story was originally published April 14, 2023 at 11:22 PM.