Texas HS State Tournament Preview – Division 5A Girls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's less than a week of play left in the soccer high school season in the state of Texas and from the thousands of teams that were in action not long ago, only 24 will make the trip to Georgetown for the State Tournament this week, from Wednesday to Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These were the best teams in the Lone Star State up to this point of the season and expect some tough battles for the six state titles to take place over the next four days at the Birkelbach Field. We've prepared previews for each division in order to get you ready for what's to come next.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Division 5A - Girls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thursday, April 13 - Semifinals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9:30 am - Smithson Valley (Region 4) vs. Grapevine (Region 1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12:00 pm - Georgetown (Region 3) vs. Frisco (Region 2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday, April 15 - Finals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11:00 am - Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Team Previews</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Smithson Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Smithson Valley Rangers from Spring Branch made history, securing the program its first-ever State Championship appearance this season. The Rangers hold a perfect record of 27 victories for the season and counted on 13 of them to win District 26 (they scored 72 goals and conceded six). Smithson Valley were ruthless in the playoffs too, beating Liberty Hill, San Antonio Jefferson, Boerne Champion, McAllen Memorial and McAllen on their way to the State Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/SVABC_GSoccer/status/1644748427991891970?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/SVABC_GSoccer/status/1644748427991891970?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> Wrilyn Shippey (D, junior), Sabrina Taber (F, senior) and Malia Thalman (F, senior)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Grapevine</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Grapevine Mustangs from Grapevine are back in the State Tournament after making it to Finals last season - they have five previous appearances and fell one win short of the title in 2016, 2018 and 2022. The Mustangs have 24 victories, three losses and two ties for the season and were the winners of District 7 with 12 wins and two ties (52 goals for, six against). Their postseason campaign features wins over Joshua, Northwest, Midlothian, Abilene and Wichita Falls Rider.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/ghs_onemustang/status/1644788067692163073?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/ghs_onemustang/status/1644788067692163073?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='26614' first='Cecilia' last='Cerone'] (GK, senior), [player_tooltip player_id='27221' first='Samantha' last='Lumpkin'] (D, senior) and Therese McCullough (F, senior)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Georgetown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Georgetown Lady Eagles from Georgetown will be at home in their first-ever State Tournament appearance. The team remains undefeated in the season with 25 wins and four ties and topped District 23 with 13 victories and one tie (71 goals for, five against). In the postseason, the Lady Eagles continued in great form, overcoming Austin Northeast Early College, Lake Belton, Magnolia, Barbers Hill and Belton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/GHS_EagleSoccer/status/1644795277654491139?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/GHS_EagleSoccer/status/1644795277654491139?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> Mycah Morrow (D, senior), Maeve Connerty (M, junior) and Addie Russu (F, senior)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Frisco</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Frisco Racoons from Frisco are back in the State Tournament after nearly 20 years, having made their only appearance in 2004, when they were stopped in the semifinals. The Racoons got there with a season record of 22 wins, two losses and two ties and emerged as the winners of District 9 with a campaign of 11 victories, two defeats and one tie (54 goals scored, seven conceded). Frisco moved past Frisco Liberty, Dallas White, Dallas Wilson, McKinney North and Frisco Reedy in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/Friscoisdsports/status/1644753609991520264?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/Friscoisdsports/status/1644753609991520264?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> Kat Campbell (M, junior), [player_tooltip player_id='27001' first='London' last='Young'] (F, freshman) and Kori Ballard (F, senior)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->