Texas HS State Tournament Preview: 6A Boys

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big moment has arrived in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Texas High School soccer season as, after almost four months of action, we're set to crown the 2024 state champions in the Lone Star State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Only four of the hundreds of teams that started the season with title aspirations in each of the six divisions still stand and they will battle this week in Georgetown, with matches taking place at Birkelbach Field from Wednesday to Sunday in the State Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The best of the best will be action over the next few days and we've prepared previews for each division to get you ready to follow the climax of high school soccer in the state of Texas this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Division 6A Boys</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals - Friday, April 12</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5:00 pm - Seven Lakes (Region 3) vs. Duncanville (Region 2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7:30 pm - Vandergrift (Region 4) vs. Flower Mound (Region 1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Championship Game - Saturday, April 13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6:30 pm - Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team Previews</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Flower Mound</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jaguars from Lewisville are set to make their second State Tournament appearance - they won the title on the first trip to state, in 2019. Coming from Region 1, the team topped District 6 and earned the right to compete for the state title with a campaign of 22 wins, two losses and two ties - with 65 goals scored and 24 conceded. In the playoffs, Flower Mound defeated Guyer, Irving, Allen, Eastlake and Prosper. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='16549' first='Morgan' last='English'] (senior goalkeeper), [player_tooltip player_id='15945' first='Carter' last='Simpson'] (senior defender) and [player_tooltip player_id='16440' first='Landon' last='deLeeuw'] (senior forward)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/FMJagsSoccer/status/1776734959333425209","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/FMJagsSoccer/status/1776734959333425209 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Duncanville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers from Duncanville are back in the State Tournament after 38 years, having won the title in 1986 and also appeared in 1983 and 1985. They progressed through the rankings in Region 2, finishing third in District 11 and producing a campaign of 20 wins, two losses and three ties, with 79 goals scored and 16 conceded. In the playoffs, Duncanville topped Weiss, Rockwall, Garland, The Woodlands and Cy Woods.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> Jesus Dias (senior goalkeeper), Nate Zozaya (senior defender) and Leonardo Coronado (junior midfielder)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/DvilleHsSoccer/status/1776683329263108324","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/DvilleHsSoccer/status/1776683329263108324 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Seven Lakes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The reigning state champions, the Spartans from Katy are set to make their third-straight State Tournament appearance. They emerged from Region 3, ranking first in District 19 and heading to Georgetown with 23 wins, one loss and two ties - besides 109 goals scored and 15 conceded. Seven Lakes knocked Fort Bend Bush, Spring Woods, Jordan, Humble and Cinco Ranch down in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> Benjamin Aviles Vera (senior goalkeeper), Aidan Morrison (senior midfielder) and [player_tooltip player_id='56106' first='Kortay' last='Koc'] (junior forward)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KatyISDAthletic/status/1776724342572745096","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/KatyISDAthletic/status/1776724342572745096 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Vandergrift</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vipers from Austin will compete in the State Tournament for the first time as part of a historic 2024 campaign. They shone in Region 4, topping District 25 and heading to the Final Four with 22 wins, two losses and two goals, besides 78 goals scored and 16 conceded. In the postseason, Vandergrift overcame Akins, Brandeis, Bowie, Harlan and Edinburgh North.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='15956' first='Charlie' last='Reed'] (senior goalkeeper), Emmy Aranda (senior midfielder) and [player_tooltip player_id='16793' first='Yandel' last='Andrade'] (senior forward)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/6a_28/status/1776703925120344159","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/6a_28/status/1776703925120344159 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->