By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
GEORGETOWN — The final whistle sounded, and this time, there was no silence.
No long bus ride. No lingering “what if.”
The Wimberley Lady Texans finished the job.
One year after a heartbreaking loss in the state final, Wimberley returned to the Class 4A Division II state championship and delivered an emphatic statement — a 3-1 win over Sunnyvale to claim program’s first state title.
“This one’s been eluding us,” head coach Eric Nichols said. “They wanted this from last year, and they weren’t going to let anyone get in the way this year.”
Redemption realized
From the moment last season ended in penalty kicks, the mission was clear.
Get back. Finish.
Wimberley (25-2-1) did exactly that, and did it with the same formula that carried it all season: relentless defense and timely scoring.
“Defense wins championships,” Nichols said. “Those girls have been a rock… you don’t win championships without a good defense.”
Sunnyvale managed just seven shots and only one on goal in the match, never consistently threatening a Wimberley back line that has been dominant throughout the postseason.
Fast start sets the tone
Wimberley wasted little time taking control.
Emma Durkin opened the scoring just 6:35 into the match, finishing an early chance to give the Lady Texans a 1-0 lead. Durkin was selected as the game’s most valuable player.
The early goal flipped the script from last year’s final where a controversial offsides call erased what would have been an opening goal.
Abby Durkin extended the lead early in the second half, pushing the advantage to 2-0 and putting Sunnyvale on its heels.
Responding to adversity
Even in control, Wimberley faced a moment of pressure.
Sunnyvale cut the lead to 2-1 on a penalty kick goal from Macy Martin midway through the second half, briefly shifting momentum.
But unlike last year, there was no unraveling.
“We knew we weren’t going to give up,” Lilli Sandoval said. “We were going to do whatever it took… and we put the ball away.”
Just over 10 minutes later, Samantha Santana delivered the final blow, finishing off an assist from Dylan Watson to seal the 3-1 victory.
A championship foundation
Wimberley finished with 13 shots (eight on goal) and controlled the attacking tempo throughout the match, while its defense neutralized Sunnyvale’s attack from start to finish.
It was the culmination of a season built on balance with a team capable of scoring from multiple spots while suffocating opponents defensively.
And for a senior group that had been building toward this moment, it was the perfect ending.
“These girls started with me four years ago,” Nichols said. “To finish it out right here… you couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Photos from the game
Box score
| 1 | 2 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wimberley | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Sunnyvale | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Goals: Wimberley – Emma Durkin (6:35, unassisted), Abby Durkin (54:13, unassisted), Samantha Santana (68:47, Dylan Watson). Sunnyvale – Macy Martin (58:42, PK)
