SPRING BRANCH– The Wimberley girls soccer season ended Tuesday, April 2, on a chilly, windy night at Smithson Valley High School, with a 3-0 loss to their District 26 rival Boerne in a 4A Regional Quarterfinal playoff game.
The Lady Texans, a young team with one senior, had the wind at their backs to start the first half. Boerne scored its first goal with 20:52 on the clock, while at the same time, a dozen or more of Wimberley’s shots on the goal were caught or deflected by Boerne’s goalkeeper Kinsley Sawyer.
Wimberley goalkeeper Sydney Laney had stopped at least six attempts before the Greyhounds scored their second goal at the 11:05 mark. Boerne’s defense made it tough for the Lady Texans to get a shot on the goal and when they did a gusting north wind made the trajectory of the ball erratic, missing the net and Boerne held a 2-0 lead at the half.
Wimberley expended a lot of energy when on defense. Moving the ball into the wind and scoring against a Boerne defense that hadn’t given up a goal in the playoffs proved to be too tough. Boerne, who had scored seven goals in the two previous playoff games, had their problems with the wind and Chloe Row, the sophomore goalkeeper who started the second half for the Lady Texans (14-6-4), gave up one goal on a penalty kick.
After the game, head coach Eric Nichols spoke to his team and couldn’t speak more highly of them and their only senior Sydney Hendon: “This team showed a lot of heart, never quit playing 'til the final second and I’m very proud of you all," Nichols said. "Syd, we love you, what a phenomenal leader, player and person you have been to these youngsters. You have left your stamp on this program and provided the motivation for its future.”
“It’s such an outstanding young team, and for many of these girls, it’s their first season playing,” Hendon said while holding back tears after the game. “I’m so proud of how they love the game, have learned the game and improved this year. I’m excited to see what they do in the future.”
