‘We’ve dreamed about this.’ Grapevine wins first UIL girls soccer title in 6th trip to state

The Grapevine and Frisco girls soccer teams have always been the bridesmaid instead of the bride in the teams’ eight combined appearances at the UIL state tournament.

But something had to give on Saturday at Birkelbach Field. One of them would finally come home with a first state title.

A penalty kick for Grapevine, following a hand ball in the box by Frisco, was put home by Baylor signee Theresa McCullough in the 51st minute, but that was all that was needed as the Mustangs won the Class 5A state championship 1-0 over the Raccoons.

It was the sixth state tournament appearance for Grapevine (26-3-2) and the fourth title game. Frisco (23-3-2) lost in the Class 4A semifinals in 2004 in its only other state appearance.

“I was so scared that I was going to miss it, but everyone was telling me to take it even though I’m the fifth taker,” said McCullough, the championship game most valuable player. “I just went with my instincts and went right every time.”

“It was poetic that McCullough hits the game winner,” said Grapevine coach Steve McBride, who won his first state championship in 26 years as a coach, nine of which have been with the Mustangs. “She’s carried us throughout the year.”

McBride, who won two state titles as a player in 1991 and 1992 with Plano, explained that McCullough’s older sister Christine had played on the 2018 team and was fifth on the ladder when her PK was saved by the Frisco Wakeland keeper to end the game.

“She came in her freshman year and said that I want my sister’s number and I want to be number five on the ladder,” McBride said of Theresa McCullough. “She’s still going to be number one on the field, but at the end of the day it was fitting that she got it.”

“I knew she had it,” said senior defender Samantha Lumpkin. “I just feel so confident that in the moment that she could do it. We’ve dreamed about this moment. We’ve talked about it all the time and it’s just surreal, I can’t believe it.”

The Frisco ISD had been the nemesis for the Mustangs in four of the five previous trips to the state tournament. Grapevine lost to Frisco Centennial in the final in 2016, lost to Wakeland in the title game in 2018, the semifinals in 2021 and the championship game last season.

The Mustangs lost to Wylie East in the semifinals in 2015.

“I’ve never been this happy in my life,” said Grapevine senior defender Jenna Leverett, sobbing with joy. “It’s been four years in the making and we’ve just worked so hard and have improved every year. I’m just so glad that we were finally able to do it.”

A scoreless first half saw plenty of chances for both sides. Frisco outshot Grapevine 4-3 in the first 40 minutes, but all three of the Mustangs’ shot were on goal to two for the Raccoons.

Grapevine’s best chance came in the 16th minute when McCullough took a free kick from 28 yards out. Her try was tipped up by Frisco goalkeeper Ariana Anderson and the ball hit the crossbar before bouncing away and getting cleared.

McBride and McCullough both lauded the play of the Mustangs defensive backfield with McCullough saying “that back line played the best game I’ve ever seen.”

McBride said that a structure change made at the half to go to a 4-4-2 alignment to help overload the midfield and give the Mustangs more numbers was a big part of the second half for Grapevine.

McBride was concerned with the creativity of Frisco forwards Luci Rodriguez and Lexi Lee getting in to space, which hurt the Mustangs in the first 40 minutes.

“With the athleticism that Frisco has, to keep them off the score sheet today is massive,” said McBride, whose team was outshot 10-4 overall and 5-4 on goal. “Just the way we did it, managing the game the way they did, I can’t say enough about all the girls. They did a fantastic job.”

“It’s so relieving,” said a weary McCullough after the game. “It’s just pounds off my chest of just, like, regret. I’ve been living with regret for over two years.

“Getting third my sophomore year, second my junior year and finally in my senior year we did it. It really means a lot.”

This story was originally published April 15, 2023 at 3:51 PM.