The Lady Texans historic season came to an end this last Thursday as Wimberley fell to the Canyon Randall Raiders in a thrilling state championship title game, losing 7-6 in penalty kicks after being tied at 2-2.
Wimberley and Head Coach Eric Nichols finish the season with a 24-2-2 overall record, the best in program history.
“I tell them all the time, this is my 27th year and I’ve waited there for this team for 27 years and they got me to the state championship game and I’m blessed,” Nichols said. “That’s all I could ever ask for. I have a bunch of hardworking girls who leave it all in the field and that’s the only thing we ever ask. They do it every time.”
Lili Sandoval scored the first goal of the game for the Lady Texans. Following the pass from Olivia Hendon, Sandoval delivered the shot past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net in the 7th minute to put Wimberley up 1-0.
The Lady Texan defense contained the Randall offense for the majority of the first half as the Raiders were unable to match Wimberley’s lone goal.
However, late in the first half, the Raiders found their opportunity. Randall scored in the 36th minute to tie the game at 1-1 as both teams went into halftime.
Early in the second half, the Raiders struck again. In the 43rd minute, Randall scored again to take the lead 2-1.
Now trailing, the Lady Texans looked to find the equalizing goal. As the Wimberley defense kept Randall off the scoreboard, the Lady Texans found the goal they were looking for.
Getting the pass from Haley Lopez, Sandoval struck again for the Lady Texans, scoring her second goal in the 69th minute and tying the game at 2-2.
Tied at 2-2, both the Raiders and the Lady Texans tried to score the game-winning goal. However both defenses turned away the opposing offenses in the final ten minutes of the game to send the game into overtime.
Once again the Raid-ers and the Lady Texans looked to score the game winning in the overtime period but to no avail as the game was then sent into penalty kicks.
Lili Sandoval, Ella Sandoval, Lopez, Hendon and Jordin Donaldson all scored goals in the shootout while Randall answered with all five of their goals to send the game into sudden death penalty kicks.
Both Wimberley and Randall missed their goals on the sixth attempt before Gwyneth Ierma made her shot. Randall also made their penalty kick to send the contest into another round.
Unfortunately for Wimberley, the Lady Texans were unable to make the kick while Randall successfully made theirs to win the title.
The trio of Sandoval, Donaldson and Kara Thames made the 4A Division II All Tournament for the Lady Texans following the conclusion of the games.
With Wimberley returning several starters from last year’s team, expect the Lady Texans to once again compete for the state title next season.
