By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
GEORGETOWN — The Round Rock Lady Dragons didn’t just arrive at the UIL Class 6A state championship.
They owned it.
Behind a commanding performance from sophomore Aiden Hernandez, Round Rock defeated Keller 3-1 Saturday morning at Birkelbach Field, securing the program’s first state title and the school’s first championship in any sport since 1997.
In their first-ever appearance on the state’s biggest stage, the Lady Dragons didn’t look like newcomers.
“It’s surreal,” said head coach Chad Aldrich. “Not only for our team, but for every player that’s played for me… for our school and our community.”
Hernandez delivers
Hernandez was the difference.
The sophomore midfielder was named the match’s most valuable player and scored twice while adding an assist, impacting all three Round Rock goals in a performance that felt inevitable as the match wore on.
“It definitely puts us on the map,” Hernandez said. “We’re always the underdog, and we showed up today.”
Round Rock (23-2-4) dictated the match throughout, finishing with an 8-2 edge in shots and controlling 66% of possession, according to the official box score .
Composure turns the tide
Keller (22-5-1) struck first in the 10th minute, but Round Rock never flinched.
The response came quickly.
Grace El-Deir leveled the match in the 20th minute off a build-up involving Hernandez and Audrey Redus, and just before halftime, Hernandez buried a penalty kick to give the Lady Dragons the lead.
From there, the game settled into Round Rock’s rhythm.
“This team is iron, sharp mentally,” Aldrich said. “Going down 1-0, it’s no sweat. They kept their composure and went to work.”
Hernandez added her second goal in the 70th minute, finishing off an assist from Carlee Deegan to stretch the lead to two.
More than a result
For El-Deir, the equalizer was part of something bigger. It was a moment years in the making.
“I don’t think there’s a word to describe the emotion,” she said. “It feels so big, it’s just an amazing feeling to see all the hard work pay off.”
Round Rock’s run was built as much on connection as it was on execution.
“This program is built on family,” Aldrich said. “We play for each other and for this community.”
A shift in the map
The win carried weight well beyond Round Rock.
The Lady Dragons became the first Central Texas team to win a Class 6A girls soccer state title since Hendrickson in 2017, adding another layer to a weekend that tilted the balance of power after years of domination by North Texas.
Round Rock was at the center of it.
“We’re putting Central Texas on the map,” Aldrich said.
More photos from the game
Box score
| 1 | 2 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round Rock | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Keller | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Goals: Keller – Giulianna LaPuma (9:06, unassisted). Round Rock – Grace El Deir (19:23, Aiden Hernandez, Audrey Redus), Hernandez (39:12, penalty kick and 69:04, Carlee Deegan)