By Wayland Clark
For the Austin Sports Journal
FISCHER — Canyon Lake responded to a late-season setback with a resilient performance in its playoff opener Friday night.
After closing the regular season with a 2-1 loss to Davenport, the Hawks bounced back in dramatic fashion, scoring twice in overtime to defeat a tenacious Legacy Ranch squad 5-3 in a UIL Class 4A Division II girls soccer bi-district playoff game at Hawks Stadium.
Canyon Lake (20-2) erased a 3-3 deadlock at the end of regulation by taking control early in the first overtime period.
Kylee Morrow delivered the decisive moment just 1 minute, 58 seconds into overtime, sending a free kick toward goal that deflected off the Legacy Ranch goalkeeper Gabriella McCall’s glove and into the net for a 4-3 lead.
Rya Clark added an insurance goal in the closing moments of the first overtime, pushing the advantage to 5-3 and sealing the Hawks’ playoff-opening victory.
“Ourstanding. I’m so very, very proud of (them),” said Canyon Lake head coach Kara Stracener said. “To watch them fight the way they did and dig deep to get this win… (Legacy Ranch) might be freshmen and sophomores, but they are a really, really good team, and they had to battle with them the whole time.”
The Wranglers (17-4-1) put together one of the most remarkable seasons in the school’s first varsity campaign. Legacy Ranch won the District 25-4A championship with a 14-0-1 league record.
The Wranglers put pressure on a heavily-favored Canyon Lake team that is ranked No. 2 in Class 4A by the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches (TASCO) and considered a state championship contender.
The Wranglers kept the Lady Hawks scoreless for the entire second half, limiting chances and forcing extra time after a tightly contested regulation.
Savanna Oberholtzer led the Hawks offensively with two goals and two assists, while Avery Norris and Abby Lowth each added a goal.
Canyon Lake goalkeeper Liza Schexnayder anchored the defensive effort with 20 saves, including a shutout performance across both overtime periods to secure the win.
Oberholtzer credited the team’s resilience for the breakthrough in overtime.
“I think it was digging deep,” she said. “In the end, it was the team that fought harder, the team that really dug deep and wanted it, and that’s why we came out with the win.”
With the victory, Canyon Lake advances to the area round and will face San Antonio Cole (20-4-4) on Tuesday at Smithson Valley’s Ranger Stadium in Spring Branch. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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