The ‘Redemption Season’ is complete.
One year after falling short of their first state title on penalty kicks, Wimberley exorcised their past demons to defeat the Sunnyvale Raiders 3-1 and capture the program’s first ever state championship.
“We knew we didn't like the feeling last year,” sophomore Emma Durkin said. “We knew we wanted to come back and finish it this year.”
Since taking over the program, Head Coach Eric Nichols knew about the potential of the Lady Texans of winning a state championship. After falling short the year before, Nichols knew his team was not going to be denied.
“This one has been eluding us for a while,” Nichols said. “It’s my 28th year and a half and I'm just blessed to have these girls here. They wanted this from last year and they were not letting anyone get in the way this year. I'm so proud and thankful for them.”
The Lady Texans struck first in the sixth minute as Wimberley was awarded the free kick just inches outside the penalty box on a handball by Sunnyvale. Sophomore Emma Durkin delivered a screamer of the goal, curling the ball around the Sunnyvale wall and into the back of the net to give the Lady Texans a 1-0 lead.
After previously scoring the opening goal in last season’s state title game, Nichols knew that it was going to take more to beat Sunnyvale.
“We were in that same position as last year,” Nichols said. “We got the first goal, but in the end we knew that wasn't enough with this team that we're facing. We knew we had to go after them. One goal is not going to cut it”
Despite being unable to extend their lead in the first, the Texan defense continued their dominating play to keep Sunnyvale off the scoreboard.
“Our defense is just so solid,” senior Lilli Sandoval said. “Barely anyone has gotten past us all year. Just having this strong defense, it gives the attacking group so much confidence to know that we got. They have our backs and they're not going to let anyone get by them easily.”
In the second half, Wimberley earned the corner kick in the 53’ minute of the second half. On the ensuing kick, the ball bounced around before finding the leg of sophomore Abby Durkin who delivered a backbreaking goal as the Texans went up 2-0.
Sunnyvale answered back as the Texans were called for the foul inside the penalty box, awarding the Raiders with a penalty kick in the 58’ minute.
The Raiders took advantage, scoring the penalty and making it a one-score game at 2-1.
Though Sunnyvale did their best to tie the game, the Lady Texan defense held firm and denied the Raiders from scoring the equalizer.
With the ball back in possession of Wimberley, the Lady Texans hit the nail of the coffin on Sunnyvale’s comeback hopes.
In the 68’ minute, freshman Samantha Santana scored on a chip shot from the assist by junior Dylan Watson to make it a two-score game at 3-1 and seal the Texans title hopes.
“You don't ever get relaxed as a coach, but at that moment, that was it,” Nichols. “We had just been missing here and there. To finally get that 3rd one to kind of go in, That to me was the blessing we needed. That's the moment we needed to feel like it was sealed in the deal for us.”
The clock hit zero as the Lady Texans rushed the field to celebrate the program’s first ever state title in soccer.
Emma Durkin was later named the Most Valuable Player of the game with four shots, three on goal and one goal for the Texans.
“It's so special,” Emma Durkin said. ”It's just a special group of girls. We just all get along really well and I'm just so glad it was this team.”
