Second-half barrage propels Frisco Wakeland over Heritage in 5A girls state championship

GEORGETOWN — Another year, another state championship for Frisco Wakeland.

The Dallas-area girls soccer royalty scored three goals in the second half to defeat Colleyville Heritage 3-2 in the Class 5A state title game on Saturday at Birkelbach Field.

All the magic began in the 47th minute, when sophomore forward Audrey Gilbert made a header off an assist by sophomore defender Sophie Altieri. Gilbert scored her second goal of the day when she launched a rocket into the goal off a pass from sophomore midfielder Finley McKnight in the 63rd minute.

With all of its bench players in, Wakeland (26–0–2) allowed two late Colleyville Heritage (24–1–2) goals from freshman forward Addison Shimmick in the 77th and 79th minute. But senior midfielder Ana Carrera sealed the win in the 68th minute to make Wakeland a four-time state champion in its fifth state tournament appearance in program history and fourth since 2018. Wakeland last hoisted the trophy in 2022.

“That’s a hell of a team we just took apart,” Wakeland coach Jimmie Lankford said. “We had a good game plan and our kids played as well today as we’ve played all year long.”

Wakeland outshot Leander Rouse 4-2 in penalty kicks to advance to Saturday’s state championship game. Junior goalkeeper Claire Manis made two huge saves as her teammates made all four of their shootout attempts.

Manis made one save on Saturday in 40 minutes played, as Wakeland took 13 shots at the opposing goal. Gilbert was named the game’s MVP.

“I knew from the beginning that this team could do it,” Gilbert said. “It was just a matter of time until we had the opportunity to, and we did.”

With only five seniors on its roster, Wakeland shut out each of its five previous playoff opponents ahead of the state tournament, outscoring its challengers 17-0. Wakeland averaged 4.5 goals in the regular season and allowed opponents an average of .6 scores.

Saturday’s championship match marked the third consecutive year that two Dallas-area 5A girls soccer teams competed against each other in a state title game. This year’s state final was also the third straight year a girls soccer team from Frisco ISD competed against a girls soccer team from Grapevine-Colleyville ISD.

Grapevine defeated Frisco 1-0 in last year’s 5A state championship game, and Wakeland upended Grapevine 3-2 in overtime for the 2022 crown. Dallas-area girls soccer teams have won UIL 5A state championships for the last three seasons.

A Prosper win over Austin Westlake in the 6A state championship at 4 p.m. Saturday would complete A D-FW girls soccer sweep. Celina girls soccer won its third consecutive 4A state championship on Thursday.

Colleyville Heritage last won a state championship in 1999, when it took home the Class 4A crown. 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 ahead of the state tournament.

In the 5A state semifinal on Thursday, Colleyville Heritage defeated Pflugerville Hendrickson 4-1 to advance to its first state final since 2011.

Wakeland lost in penalty kicks in the regional quarterfinals last year. A season later, the juggernaut adds another title to its trophy case.

“It really put a fire in us,” Lankford said. “We put the time in the weight room and time in the offseason. Our goal the whole time was to get back here. It was game-by-game, but this team ended 26–0–2, undefeated on the season. It speaks a lot to their work ethic.”

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