By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
BUDA – For 80 minutes Thursday, Liberty Hill and Pieper was at a stalemate.
It took less than 60 seconds of the overtime period for Pieper freshman Kinley Smith to end it all.
Smith put a gem by Liberty Hill goalkeeper Brooklyn Escobar to lift the Warriors to a 1-0 victory in a UIL Class 5A Division II girls soccer bi-district playoff at Bob Shelton Stadium in Buda.
Pieper (18-3-2) played back for the next 19 minutes of the two overtime periods and fought off a persistent Panther offense, led by senior forward Gracie Garner and senior midfielder Jaydn Jones.
Led by senior Kathleen Pollom and junior goalkeeper Olivia Flores, the Warriors’ defense might have well been a military fortress. Pieper was able to fend off any scoring attack by Liberty Hill.
The Panthers end their season with a 17-5-2 overall record. The Warriors will move on to the area round to play San Antonio McCollum in the area round.
Click image to make slideshow full screen.
More UIL soccer playoff coverage
– Boys parings and results
– Girls parings and results
Follow the Austin Sports Journal on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky for the best high school sports coverage in the Greater Austin Area. Subscribe to get access to more content like this. By subscribing, you make stories like this possible.
