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EXTRA TIME: Previewing the 2025 UIL Soccer State Finals--Alief Elsik v. Klein Cain (Boys 6A-D1)
It all comes down to this.
As teams and fanbases prepare to travel to Georgetown this week, the UIL Soccer season is nearing its grand finale.
In Saturday's 6A-Division I state championship, two Houston-area teams—Alief Elsik and Klein Cain—will square off in a matchup that has taken many by surprise.
Some of the stars of 2024-25 Alief Elsik SoccerDoug Brown (VYPE)
Alief Elsik enters the final on the heels of two monumental victories last week.
First, the Rams knocked off back-to-back 6A champions Seven Lakes with a dominant 5-1 performance. They followed that with a crucial 1-0 win over Vista Ridge on Friday, securing a spot in the championship and earning Whataburger Team of the Week honors.
With a 24-2 record heading into the final, Elsik has proven to be a force to be reckoned with.
Head Coach Vincenco Cox and his squad have demonstrated impressive cohesion at every phase of the game.
Defensively, senior defenders Chris Guillen and Michael Ochoche-Ochoche have anchored a shutdown back line, while the midfield and attack have been driven by the talents of Jacob Ordonez, Asa Marsh, and Jhon Marulanda-Morena, all seniors.
Last week’s Semifinal marked Elsik's fourth appearance at the State Tournament, with their last trip coming in 2019. The Rams will be hungry to add another state title to their 2018 victory, when they defeated San Antonio Reagan 1-0.
On the other side, Klein Cain is riding a wave of unprecedented success.
2024-25 Klein Cain SoccerJamey Wright (VYPE)
The Hurricanes are making their first-ever appearance in the State Final since the school opened in 2017.
They punched their ticket to the championship with a dramatic 7-6 penalty shootout victory over Plano West after a 1-1 draw in Friday’s Semifinal. Prior to that, Klein Cain secured a 1-0 win over Bridgeland in the Region II-6A-D1 Final.
With a 23-2-3 record, Coach Jerson Carrasco and co. are looking to cap off a historic season with a state title.
Offensively, look for senior forward Andre Popa and junior forward Parker Glenn to put pressure on Elsik's defense, while captains Evan Messina (senior defender) and Daniel Celis (junior defender) will lead the charge against the Rams' equally potent attack.
At 6:30 PM on Saturday, these two H-Town heavyweights will clash at Birkelbach Field in a battle for the 6A-Division I crown.
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EXTRA TIME: Previewing the 2025 UIL Soccer State Finals--Coppell v. Lake Travis (Girls 6A-D1)
We’ve reached the critical point of the UIL Soccer season, with teams across the state heading to Georgetown to compete for a state championship.
For the girls’ side, it doesn’t get much better than the 6A-Division I Final, where Coppell will face Lake Travis in what promises to be an entertaining clash of soccer powerhouses.
Under the leadership of third-year head coach Craig Able, Coppell enters the championship as the No. 2-ranked team in Texas (MaxPreps), with an impressive record of 21-2-3.
The Cowgirls have been tested throughout the season, particularly with a challenging district schedule that included tough opponents like Flower Mound, whom they defeated 1-0 in the State Semifinals. FM Marcus, who will play in the 6A-D2 Final, was also a part of that tough district lineup.
Coppell has continued to shine in the postseason, dispatching powerhouse teams like Keller (4-1) and, most recently, The Woodlands (3-0) in dominant fashion.
This marks their fourth appearance at the State Tournament, with their last state title coming in 2015 with a 3-0 victory over Highland Park.
The Cowgirls boast a roster full of standout athletes, many of whom are set to continue their careers at the collegiate level.
Senior forward Reagan Roberson, who leads the team with 25 goals, is committed to play at DBU. Other key contributors include defenders Monica Morales (WashU) and Neerali Kapadia (Rice), midfielder Summer Chen (Gonzaga), and senior goalkeeper Veronika Orzolek, who will play at the University of Central Lancashire in England.
With a strong mix of seasoned players, Coppell aims for its third state title.
On the other side of the field, Lake Travis enters the final with a 22-1-1 record, their only loss coming at the hands of Coppell (4-0) in the season opener on January 2nd.
The Cavaliers, led by coach William Maloney, have been nearly unstoppable since then, riding a 13-game winning streak into the championship game. In Friday's State Semifinal, they secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Seven Lakes to earn their spot in the title match.
This is Lake Travis’ fifth appearance at the State Tournament, but their first trip to the final since 2003. Though they have yet to capture a championship, there’s no time like the present.
Lake Travis is led by captains Breckyn Ferrell (junior midfielder, Colorado State commit) and Colette Whitsitt (senior goalkeeper, Trinity), two players who have anchored the team throughout the season. The Cavaliers also feature key contributors like midfielder Amelia Clark (junior) and defender Maya Ramirez (sophomore), both of whom have played pivotal roles in their team's success.
These two soccer giants will square off this Saturday at 4:00 PM at Birkelbach Field, with everything on the line as they vie for the 6A-Division I crown.