GEORGETOWN — Wylie East advanced to its first UIL state girls soccer tournament in a season in which it beat the last three Class 4A state champions. Wylie East came close to being a state champion itself.
Austin Vandegrift defeated Wylie East, 1-0, on Saturday in the final at Georgetown’s Birkelbach Field as Vandegrift junior Kyndal Howard scored on a header right in front of the goal at 77:32 off an assist from Cassidy Cavanaugh. It was the only goal Wylie East (24-2-1) had allowed in its last five games.
Wylie East, in its fourth varsity season, defeated last year’s state champ, Denton Guyer, in the regular season and defeated 2012 champ Highland Park and 2011 champion Frisco Wakeland in the regular season and playoffs.
“There’s some disappointment,” Wylie East coach Kody Christensen said. “But, as a whole, I’m extremely proud. We had our chances. You have to get a few bounces and give yourself a chance to get lucky. The goal could have happened for us or at their end.”
Only a 5-year-old program, Vandegrift (19-3-2) advanced by a series of dramatic wins. Vandegrift scored late in the second half for a tie and defeated Trophy Club Byron Nelson in the semifinals on penalty kicks. Vandegrift needed overtime in the regional final and advanced on penalty kicks in the third round.
Wylie East outshot Vandegrift 4-0 in the first half. Wylie East senior Molli Pampolina’s shot bounced off the crossbar from 10 yards out in the second half. Pampolina is one of just five Wylie East seniors.
“We put everything we had into it,” Pampolina said. “We wanted it. We prepared. I wouldn’t want to be on any other team.”
Wylie East arrived to its first state final with 18 shutouts, and junior goalie Brooke-Lynn Scroggins kept Vandegrift out of the net until 2:28 remained. Scroggins stopped a Vandegrift scoring attempt in the 37th minute as she rushed out to halt a breakaway dribble and then cover a loose ball. Vandegrift scored on its only official shot by Howard.