For the third year, a team from D-FW won each of the three girls state titles, but Austin might have something to say about that in 2025
By Michael Adams
madams@onthesidelinessports.copm
Celina, Frisco Wakeland and Prosper combined to sweep the girls championships this past weekend at the UIL state soccer tournament in Georgetown.
It was the third year in-a-row that the D-FW area swept the girls state soccer championships.
On the boys side, Midlothian added a fourth title for the D-FW metroplex. However, San Elizario (El Paso) won the Class 4A boys championship and Katy Seven Lakes (Houston) won the 6A title.
The Austin area had five teams reach the state tournament yet walked away empty handed. Only one team reached the state finals – the Westlake girls.
However, the tide might be changing on the girls side in the very near future, if not in 2025.
The three girls teams from Austin that qualified were the second most from one geographical area, just behind the five the D-FW area sent to Georgetown. All of them – and some teams that made deep playoff runs – share one very important detail in common.
They won’t graduate a lot of seniors.
The Chaparrals (17-5-2) graduate five seniors, but only two starters. Midfielders AJ Carlson and Candence Carlson are both juniors, as are forwards Carter Utkov and Mia Berry and defender Kit-Kat Valentine.
Goalkeeper Sophia Martin, who made the save of the season in Westlake’s 1-0 win over Rockwall in Friday’s 6A semifinal, is just a sophomore, as are Grace Condon and Ade Nelson.
“We’re still fairly young,” said Westlake head coach Darci Carruthers. “We brought some JV girls along with us throughout the playoffs so they could be hungry and get a taste for what this is all about.”
The Rouse girls are in a similar position
The Raiders (20-5-3) lost to eventual state champion Frisco Wakeland in penalty kicks in a 5A semifinal after finishing 100 minutes deadlocked a nil-nil.
Rouse only loses one senior – forward Kate Baker – and returns 10 starters in 2025.
Leading goal scorer Kylie Snell, a sophomore midfielder will be back, as will junior goalkeeper Kayla Hehanberger, sophomore defender Ashley Perez and freshman midfielder JJ Arellano, among others that played significant roles throughout the playoffs.
Hendrickson’s girls are also in a similar position.
The Hawks (21-4-2) will have to replace goalkeeper Sophia Ruvalcaba, along with four other seniors. However, they will return several key players, including junior Kaylee McKinley, freshman Brea Lewis, junior Kylie Marchand-Simons and freshman Ava Back.
Girls teams from Georgetown, Lake Travis, Cedar Park, Leander, Liberty Hill, Westwood and Round Rock will also return their respective top players in 2025.
One might argue that Austin girls soccer is at the door ready to end Dallas’ dominance at the state tournament.
Boys teams from the Austin area are going to be hit a little harder by graduation. Both of the teams that qualified for the state tournament will be gutted by graduation.
Vandegrift (22-3-2) reached the 6A boys semifinals with 18 seniors on its roster, including midfielders Rahul Gupta and Emmy Aranda and goalkeeper Daniel Manevich, who will play at Clemson in the fall.
However, the Vipers will return sophomore forward Luke Hawley and junior midfielder James Hahman.
Class 5A state qualifier Glenn (29-1-1) will lose 15 seniors from this year’s squad but will return leading scorer Armando Don Jaun and goalkeeper Keller Marchant.
District 26-6A champion Bowie (22-1-2) was one of the favorites in Region IV, but lost to Vandegrift in the regional quarterfinals in a shootout. Like Glenn and Vandegrift, the Bulldogs were senior heavy. Bowie will graduate 16 seniors, including leading scorer Griffin Crawley and midfielder Jake Ciccarello, who led the team in assists with 21.