Texas State Tournament Top Performers: 5A Girls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school soccer season came to an end this past weekend, with the four best teams in each division clashing for the state title at the Birkelbach Field, in Georgetown, between Wednesday and Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of the most promising players of the Lone Star State were in action in Georgetown, playing big roles for their teams as they battled for the state title and we'll take the next few days to recognize some of them who stood out with strong performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Division 5A saw the Wakeland Lady Wolverines continue to establish themselves as a force in the state with their fourth title (and the third in the last seven years) with a 3-2 win over Colleyville Heritage in the Championship Game. They ended the season undefeated with 25 wins and three ties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/uiltexas/status/1779210759953690932","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/uiltexas/status/1779210759953690932 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are some of the players who showed a strong game in the division:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112739"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The sophomore forward was absolutely pivotal in Wakeland's title, operating as the team's offensive piece over the weekend in Georgetown, as was the case during the entire season. Gilbert was active in the semifinal against Rouse, firing a shot into the crossbar, but couldn't break the deadlock and avoid the scoreless tie that took the match to PKs. She saved the best for the Championship Game, getting a brace with a header and a powerful shot to the upper corner that paved the way for her team's victory. Gilbert was awarded as the MVP of the match.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661d9dc694ef1"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/AudreyGilbert08/status/1779272070125486373","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/AudreyGilbert08/status/1779272070125486373 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["132104"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"If Gilbert was the difference-maker for Wakeland in the Championship Game, the same can be said about Manis for the semifinals. The junior goalkeeper was on the field for 60 minutes against Rouse and helped her team secure a clean sheet with as many as four saves. Manis came up even bigger for the Lady Wolverines in the PK shootout making two saves that helped them advance to the Championship Game. She played the first half of the final against Colleyville Heritage and held them scoreless when she was on the field.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661d9dc694f64"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["112573"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Colleyville Heritage's freshman forward was one of the sensations of the State Tournament, emerging as one of the most productive players in all divisions. Shimmick carried her team's offense with four goals scored in two matches and left a very strong impression in her first appearance. She scored the team's second and third goals against Hendrickson in the semifinals, one of them in a 40-yard free kick shot. The freshman brought her team back to life in the Championship Game with two goals scored in the last four minutes, taking advantage of the only opportunities she had in the match.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661d9dc694fb7"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/C5uR7eYLDJ2/?img_index=1","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/C5uR7eYLDJ2/?img_index=1 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kayla Hehenberger","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Rouse","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Hehenberger was another goalkeeper to stand out in Georgetown. Her team Rouse didn't make it past the semifinals, but her strong play kept eventual champions Wakeland scoreless for 100 minutes, taking the game to a PK shootout. Hehenberger was very reliable during the match, with six saves registered, and contributed to the team's strong defensive system, which only allowed one regulation goal in six playoff matches.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661d9dc69505e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kaylee McKinley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hendrickson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Lonestar SC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of Hendrickson's captains, McKinley scored the team's only goal in Georgetown, in a 4-1 loss to Colleyville Heritage in the semifinals. Despite her efforts not being enough to give her team a chance to win the match, they didn't go unnoticed as she earned an All-Tournament Team selection. Playing with great energy, the junior midfielder was dangerous in the match, firing a team-high three shots.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661d9dc6950e9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19029372/661d7f25b17104e2066998ea' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661d9dc69517d"} /-->