By Michael Adams
madams@onthesidelinessports.com

SAN ANTONIO – The Westlake girls soccer team has slayed a few giants throughout this playoff run.

You can add previously unbeaten San Antonio Taft to the list.

The Chaparrals (16-4-2) defeated the Raiders 2-0 Saturday at Comalander Stadium in San Antonio to win the Class 6A-IV regional championship and claim their spot in the UIL state soccer tournament.

Taff (21-1) became the latest victim of Westlake, which defeated regional favorites Westwood, San Antonio Johnson and Lake Travis on its way to Saturday’s final.

“It’s been great preparation (for state), honestly,” said senior forward Kate Grannis. “Taft played amazing, they were even a player down and they were still giving us a tough time. I think this run, and the challenges we’ve faced, is going to help us next weekend.”

• See more photos from Saturday’s game

Grannis was the player of the match, scoring both of Westlake’s goals from assists from Carter Utkov in the final 10 minutes of regulation.

The Chaparrals took an early advantage when Taft goalkeeper Madissyn Harris received a red card and was ejected in the 15th minute of the match after body checking Carter Utkov outside the goal box.

Harris was the star in Taft’s shootout win over Round Rock in Friday’s regional semifinal.

Despite the one-player advantage, Westlake missed several opportunities in the first half to break the game open.

“It was a little frustrating, but at the same time, I understood the heightened emotions, the crowd was getting a little chippy, the referees were letting the girls play, which I appreciate,” said Westlake head coach Darci Carruthers. “We had a good opprotunity to regroup at halftime and reset, we reminded them that the pressure was on (Taft).

“They were the ones that were undefeated and playing with 10.”

Westlake returned in the second half and was on the offensive most of the final 40 minutes. Taft did get a breakaway midway through the half, but Westlake goalkeeper Sophia Martin made a great save to finish with her 11th clean sheet of the season.

The Chaparrals are returning to the state tournament for the second time in the last three years, and fourth time in school history. Westlake lost to Southlake Carroll in the 2022 semifinals and hasn’t reach a state final since 1996.

The Class 6A girls semifinals are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and noon on Friday at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.