Chaps reach the state final for the first time in almost 30 years
By Michael Adams
madams@onthesidelinessports.com
GEORGETOWN – In a field of Goliaths, Westlake continues to play the role of David in the UIL state girls soccer playoffs.
The latest victim was the Rockwall Yellowjacksets (21-4-2) in a Class 6A state semifinal. The Chaparrals (17-4-2) defeated Rockwall 1-0 Friday morning to advance to Saturday’s state championship at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.
“We got one more to go,” said Westlake head coach Darci Carruthers. “This is a dream come true. (Reaching the state final) is everything we’ve been working toward and our goal once we got in the playoffs.”
Rockwall (21-4-2) flexed its muscles for the first 40 minutes of the match, holding the Chaps to just one shot on goal in the first half.
Meanwhile, the Yellowjackets had five opportunities to take control of the game. However, Westlake goalkeeper Sophia Martin might as well have been a brick wall.
Martin had four saves en route to her 10th clean sheet of the season. Her biggest save of the match, if not the season, came in the 28th minute on a penalty kick by Ayla Garcia.
Martin blocked Garcia’s shot toward the upper left corner of the goal and the rebound attempt by Garcia went over the cross bar, keeping the score 0-0.
“I just wanted to do whatever I could to help my team,” Martin said. “To be able to block that shot and then celebrate with my team, that was just amazing.
“We enjoy being the underdogs and being overlooked,” she added.
The Chaparrals took over in the second half, controlling possession and out shooting the Yellowjackets 4-2.
Junior Kate Grannis, Carter Utkov and Gabby Jeathien each had opprotunites at the first goal. Grannis’ shot in the 48th minute was saved by Rockwall goalkeeper Layla Amaya, while Utkov and Jeathien’s shots were high and blocked by a defender, respectively.
Then, in the 70th minute, junior midfielder AJ Carlson took a pass by Grannis and placed it in the back of the net to give Westlake a 1-0 advantage.
“Sophia’s save really shifted the momentum for us,” Carlson said. “It was the spark we needed.”
The Chaparrals played keep away for the remaining 10 minutes and prevented the Yellowjackets from getting a shot off.
As the clock reached 10 seconds the countdown began. Once it hit zero, Westlake players stormed toward Martin in goal to celebrate reaching the state final for the first time since 1996.
Kickoff for Saturday’s 6A state championship is scheduled for 4 p.m.