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EXTRA TIME: Previewing the 2025 UIL Soccer State Finals--Stratford v. FM Marcus (Girls 6A-D2)
The pinnacle of the UIL soccer season has arrived, with teams and their fanbases heading to Birkelbach Field in Georgetown for an unforgettable finish.
Kicking off Saturday’s events, the 6A-Division II state final between Stratford and Flower Mound Marcus promises to be a clash of titans.
Stratford has already made history by reaching the state semifinals for the first time, and they’ve taken it a step further with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Austin powerhouse Vandegrift last Friday.
This victory not only earned them a spot in the final but also extended their winning streak to 19 games.
The Spartans, now 22-2-3, have been one of the most dominant teams in the state, combining an effective offense with a disciplined defense.
With 143 goals scored in 27 games (roughly five per match) and only 14 goals conceded, Stratford has been a force to be reckoned with.
Under the leadership of coach David Walters, the Spartans have relied on their veteran captains— Auburn-signee Allison Goodwin (F), Ryann Weber (MF/Samford), Mary-Charlotte Paul (MF), and goalkeeper Olivia Harbison—who have been pivotal throughout their postseason run.
The same can be said for SHSU-commit Sara Benton (Jr. MF) and junior forward Sydney Valentine.
Though they are ranked No. 32 in Texas according to MaxPreps, Stratford has an opportunity to finish at the top of the 6A-Division II rankings with a win on Saturday.
Flower Mound Marcus, from Lewisville ISD, enters the final battle-tested and looking for their third state title.
No. 17-ranked Marcus (18-4-3) has enjoyed yet another tremendous postseason, defeating the defending 6A champions, Prosper, 1-0 last Tuesday, followed by a solid 2-0 win against Forney on Friday.
This marks their eighth appearance in the state tournament, and they’re aiming to add to their championship legacy, having last won the title in 2023 with a 2-0 victory over Ridge Point.
The Erin Smith-led Marauders boast a roster full of talent, with key players such as senior forwards Maddie Hayes and Emma Fioretti (Central Oklahoma-commit), junior defender Piper Garcia (American U), and senior midfielders Hannah Campos and Zemira Dube (Missouri Southern), all of whom have played critical roles in the team’s success.
Senior goalkeeper Aubrey Tipton has also been a standout, consistently coming through in crucial moments, while sophomore captain Ryleigh Albin anchors the back-line.
Saturday’s opener between Stratford and Flower Mound Marcus is sure to be a spectacle, as the two battle for 6A-D2 supremacy at 11:00 AM at Birkelbach Field.
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Foster Water Polo's Jasmine Brown & Connie Garcia
THE RECAP: UIL Water Polo/Team Tennis 2024 State Tournament Results
Over the course of this past week, numerous state champions were ultimately decided in the first edition of the UIL Fall tournaments.
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At the Josh Davis Natatorium in San Antonio, two Houston heavyweights in Brazoswood (26-2) and Foster (30-0) advanced to the 6A Girls Finals, on the heels of defeating Southlake Carroll (Score: 14-8) and Boerne-Champion (Score: 23-4), respectively.
Both faced off this past Saturday, in what was a hard-fought battle that was ultimately decided by an 11-9 overtime victory for Brazoswood.
This marked the first state title for the Buccaneers, who denied the back-to-back champs Foster the opportunity to secure a three-peat.
In terms of accolades, Brazoswood's Mallory Kesler (Sr.) was named the State MVP, with Kinley Niles (Foster), Gigi Lower (Brazoswood), Cassidy Jacks (Foster), Hope Kadlecik (Brazoswood), Cayden VanDyne (Boerne-Champion), and Sydney Rubin (Southlake Carroll) being named to the 2024 All-Tournament team.
On the boys' side, Clear Creek (30-0-1) defeated perennial state contender Foster, by the score of 19-12, while Marcus (22-0) toppled Boerne-Champion (Score: 22-16) in order to move on to the State Final.
By the end of regulation, it would be the Clear Creek Wildcats who dethroned the 2023 state champions Marcus Marauders, in a definitive 14-10 triumph on Saturday afternoon.
Clear Creek senior Jamie De Zwart was named State MVP, while the All-Tournament team included Owen Kroh (Marcus), Ethan Jerla (Clear Creek), Landon Heuer (Marcus), Caden Digby (Clear Creek), Bexon Harrison (Boerne-Champion), and Foster's Ethan Molina.
Regardless of the result, all sides should feel pride in the dominance they've shown since the sport was finally recognized by the UIL in 2021.
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Meanwhile, at the Baylor University Tennis Center, there was a slew of teams competing for gold this past Thursday.
In the Class 4A bracket, the two squads who climbed all the way to the top were Canyon Randall (33-1) and Willis Point (21-3).
When all was said and done, however, it was Randall who took the title home after winning 10-4, to reclaim their 2022 championship-status.
Abilene Wylie (23-5) and Frisco Centennial (19-2) went head-to-head, representing the 5A classification, with the Centennial Titans emerging victorious (Score: 10-2), marking their second-straight title acquisition.
Last, but not least, in Thursday's proceedings, the UIL-6A Final came down between Round Rock Westwood (19-0) and Seven Lakes (17-3-1).
Despite a valiant effort by Seven Lakes, the, now, back-to-back-to-back State Champs Westwood Warriors were simply too much to handle, having won it all by the score of 10-3, also marking the fifth time in seven years that the program has done so.