By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal

Wimberley walked off the field one kick short of a state championship a year ago.

The bus ride home was quiet, somber.

That moment has fueled everything since, and now the Lady Texans are coming to finish the job.

Kimberley (24-2-1) will face Sunnyvale (24-3-1) in the UIL Class 4A Division II state championship at 4 p.m. Thursday, returning to the same stage where last season ended in a 7-6 penalty kick loss to Canyon Randall.

“We’re going back,” head coach Eric Nichols said of the sentiment on that bus ride. “That’s where it all started.”

Redemption over experience

Last year was about getting there. This year is about winning it.

“I think last year was the jitters, the newness,” Nichols said. “This is not a learning experience. This is we’re going after this title.”

That mindset has shown up in how Wimberley has played down the stretch.

Since a 3-1 loss to Canyon Lake on March 3, the Lady Texans have not allowed a single goal. They’ve outscored opponents 41-0 over their last seven matches, a dominant stretch that reflects a team locked in on both ends of the field.

“We realized this was the time to lock in,” said senior Cameron Thames, noting the team embraced an “all-out dog fight” mentality entering the playoffs.

Fuel from last year’s heartbreak

The sting of last year’s final hasn’t faded, and it’s not supposed to.

Early in that match, Lilli Sandoval appeared to give Wimberley the lead, only for the goal to be waved off on an offsides call that remains a point of frustration.

“That makes me want to go out there and just score four,” Sandoval said.

It’s not just one moment, though. It’s the totality of how it ended.

“It was the worst way to lose,” Sandoval said of the penalty kick defeat. “That’s a feeling I don’t want to go through again.”

That pain turned into purpose.

“Our motto for state is redemption,” Thames said.

Built for this moment

Few teams in Class 4A are as battle-tested as Wimberley.

The Lady Texans opened the season with a 0-0 draw against four-time state champion Celina, a Class 4A Division I finalist, and also scrimmaged the Bobcats’ opponent Thursday morning – Salado.

Add in a challenging District 26-4A slate that features the last team to beat Wimberley – Canyon Lake – and state semifinalist Davenport, and its easy to see how battle tested the Lady Texans truly are heading into Thursday’s final.

“That’s been one of the things we talk about a lot,” Sandoval said. “How tough that schedule was and what that’s going to do for us.”

Experience meets expectation

For seniors like Sandoval and Thames, Thursday marks their fourth state championship appearance across multiple sports, an anomaly in today’s specialized high school sports environment.

But inside the program, that consistency has created a different kind of expectation.

“Getting there is more like, we should have done that,” Thames said.

And now, there’s one expectation left.

Finish.

“I think we’re more composed, more relaxed,” Nichols said. “They’ve been there. Now they’re ready to go win it.”

After a year of waiting, Wimberley is back where it believed it would be all along.

This time, the Lady Texans aren’t chasing the moment.

They’re there to finish the job.

Photos from Wimberley’s match against Canyon Lake

Keys to the match

1. Finish the chances

Wimberley created opportunities in last year’s final but didn’t capitalize enough. With a balanced attack that’s produced 127 goals, the Lady Texans must convert early and avoid letting the match hang in the balance.

2. Maintain the defensive standard

Seven straight shutouts (41-0 goal differential) isn’t a fluke. Wimberley’s back line that’s anchored by Thames, and a goalkeeper tandem that’s been tested, have been dominant since early March. If that form holds, it puts immense pressure on Sunnyvale to be nearly perfect.

3. Control the emotion, not the moment

This group has already experienced the state stage and the heartbreak that comes with it. The difference this time is composure. No nerves, no rush, just execution.

4. Depth over dependence

Wimberley’s strength is numbers. You can’t key on one player. If Sunnyvale tries to take away Sandoval or another primary option, others will be there to step up – something this group has consistently done.

Tale of the tape

What: Class 4A Division II state championship

When: 4 p.m., Thursday

Where: Birkelbach Field, Georgetown

Sunnyvale

Record: 24-3-1

Goals for: 141

Goals against: 15

State tournament appearances: 0

State championships: 0

How they got here: def. Frisco Pather Creek 3-0, d. Pinkston 10-0, d. Athens 5-1, d. Aubrey 3-2, Godley 2-1.

Wimberley

Record: 24-2-1

Goals for: 125

Goals against: 14

State tournament appearances: 1

State championships: 0

How they got here: def. Lago Vista 5-0, d. Pleasanton 8-0, d. Ingleside 8-0, d. Corpus Christi London 5-0, d. Hardin-Jerrerson 2-0

What to watch

Redemption factor: This isn’t just another game for Wimberley. The motivation has been building since the final whistle last year, from the penalty kick loss to the controversial offsides call. How that emotion translates early will be telling.

Fast start vs. patient approach: Does Wimberley come out aggressive trying to make a statement early, or stay composed and let the match develop? An early goal could completely tilt the game.

Sunnyvale’s response to pressure: Wimberley’s high press and defensive shape have suffocated opponents during the playoff run. If Sunnyvale can break that pressure and create chances, it changes everything.

Prediction

Wimberley 3, Sunnyvale 0 (Wimberley is on a mission to win it all, and nothing will stand in the Lady Texans’ way to achieve that mission.)