GEORGETOWN — In its best season in program history, and first appearance at the state championship, the Wimberley High School Lady Texans soccer team (24-2-2) took the Canyon Randall High School Raiders (22-5-1) to the limit Thursday, April 10, at Birkelbach Stadium in Georgetown, losing 3-2 in sudden death.
Lillian Sandoval gave Wimberley a 1-0 lead on a goal at the 7:20 mark, with an assist by Olivia Hendon. Randall tied it 1-1 at 36:02 and it remained tied at the half. A goal at 43:57 gave the Raiders a 2-1 lead. Sandoval got the equalizer goal to tie the game again at the 69:03 mark, with an assist from Haley Lopez.
The game remained tied after two, 10-minute extra time periods and a penalty kick shootout, which went 16 rounds to determine the winner. Both teams, on five consecutive shots, put the ball in the net and again, the game remained tied. This would force sudden death, where both team’s initial shots were blocked and the next two were made.
Senior Lauren Foster takes a long shot on the goal with 24 seconds remaining in the second and final overtime as teammate Dylan Watson looks on.
In the next round, Wimberley’s shot was blocked and the Raiders were successful, ending the game with a 7-6 advantage on penalty kicks.
Randall had more shots on goal in regulation play 8-5, but Wimberley’s defense didn’t allow them a shot on goal in the two, 10-minute overtimes, while the Lady Texans took four shots for a 9-8 game total. The Lady Texans goalkeeping duo of Sydney Laney and Chloe Row had two saves, both credited to Laney. Time of possession was in favor of the Lady Texans with 62% and Randall having 38%. Wimberley had six corner kicks to Randall’s two.
Randall had one offside call — a passing violation that occurs when a forward player is closer to the opponent's goal than either the ball or the second-to-last opposing player — while Wimberley was charged with six.
Nichols said several calls had gone against them this year, but his team is so quick to get through the opposing team’s backline it, could give the appearance of already being in the offside position and without video replay, the calls could be missed.
“We discuss it in our video sessions and our team discussions about teams that try the offside trap on us,” the head coach said.
Wimberley fans may have agreed with the sentiment, as they were very vocal about the majority of the calls being unjust after seeing the stadium video replay.
Randall had one foul in the second period. Wimberley was charged with four fouls, three in the first period and one in the second period. There were no yellow or red cards issued.
“It’s disappointing to go to PKs, but that’s the heartache of this sport we play and it, unfortunately, didn’t go our way,” head coach Eric Nichols said after the game. “The support we have received is insane and it shows [that] these girls are role models and have made an impact on our community and the future of our program. When you’ve got a team that leaves it all on the field -— the heart, the dedication, intensity and effort — that’s all you can ask.”
“They’ve been here and now, they’re going to want to come back and I expect us to be back,” Nichols concluded.
Throughout the 2024-25 season, Wimberley had 18 shutouts, with four of those in the playoffs. Goalkeepers Laney and Row allowed 13 goals, not counting the shootout, and the team scored 135 goals. Sandoval led the team with 46 goals and four teammates scored in double digits: Dylan Watson had 20, Ella Sandoval 16, Haley Lopez 18 and Abby Durkin 10.
This year's graduating seniors are Sydney Laney, Addison Laney, Joey Morgenroth, Ella Sandoval, Lauren Foster, Baylee Willis and Lopez.
Wimberley players who were named to the 4A D2 All-Tournament Team are Sandoval, junior forward, Jordin Donaldson, junior midfielder, and Kara Thames, sophomore defender.
