Heritage cruises past Hendrickson, returns to state final for first time since 2011

GEORGETOWN — Colleyville Heritage played one heck of an exciting soccer match, and for that, it will take its 24th win of the season into the Class 5A state championship game.

Making their first state tournament appearance since 2011 and their fourth in program history on Thursday, the Colleyville Heritage girls (24–0–2) cruised to a 4-1 victory over Pflugerville Hendrickson (21–4–2) in the Class 5A state semifinal at Birkelbach Field.

Colleyville Heritage scored three goals in the first half, two by freshman forward Addison Shimmick. Her score on a kick from about 35 yards out in the 39th minute helped Colleyville Heritage to a 3-1 halftime lead.

Freshman forward Ashyln Bringedahl, who had 14 assists in the regular season, put Colleyville Heritage on the board first, scoring off a pass from senior defender Bonnie Miller in the 19th minute. Senior forward Allie Love scored Colleyville Heritage’s final goal in the 48th minute.

Love, a Rice soccer and track signee, scored her eighth goal of the playoffs, seven in her last five postseason matches. She had 26 goals entering Thursday’s state semifinal.

“It’s just impressive. They’re very steady,” Colleyville Heritage coach Monte Pace said. “Especially to have as many young kids as we do. They’re very consistent and they play very well and the senior leaders kind of show them the way.”

Junior forward Kaylee McKinley scored for Hendrickson in the 25th minute, when she found an opening after missing her initial shot moments before.

Colleyville Heritage senior goalkeeper Juliana Grider made one save in the match. Grider finished the regular season with 10 shutouts and posted two shutouts for District 7-5A champion Colleyville Heritage in her previous five playoff games.

Boasting one of the top offenses in the Dallas area, Colleyville Heritage averaged 5.1 goals per game in the regular season and allowed opponents an average of .6 goals per game. It outscored its previous five playoff opponents 22-4.

Colleyville Heritage last won a state championship in 1999, when it took home the Class 4A crown. The program has the chance to win its second title in school history on Saturday at 11 a.m. against Frisco Wakeland or Leander Rouse.

“We’ve had a good season. We’ve really been playing well,” Pace said. " We got to the playoffs and kind of found some momentum and we came down here with an objective to make it to that state championship game.”

Ticket punched! See photos as Colleyville Heritage girls soccer wins 5A state semifinal

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