The Dallas Morning News’ Lia Assimakopoulos previews the 2024 girls soccer playoffs for Dallas-area schools, beginning Monday.
Can the Dallas area produce another undefeated champion?
Last season, Wylie East and Celina both reached the state tournament without losing a single game, and Celina claimed the 4A title to become just the 12th girls soccer team in UIL history to win state without losing a game.
Celina was also one of just three teams to win state with no losses or ties — joining Highland Park in 2017 and Humble Kingwood in 1995.
This season, four Dallas-area girls teams remain undefeated entering the postseason and look to join that exclusive club. Southlake Carroll (21-0-1), Duncanville (19-0-1), Frisco Wakeland (19-0-2) and Colleyville Heritage (18-0-2) have been near perfect throughout the regular season and sit atop their respective area rankings heading into the postseason.
Southlake Carroll and Frisco Wakeland are each seeking their programs’ fourth state titles. Duncanville is looking to capture its third and first since 1990. Colleyville Heritage has one title, which it won in 1999.
Which Dallas-area team has best shot at its first state tournament appearance?
A handful of this year’s contenders have never been to the UIL soccer state tournament. While their roads won’t be easy against other Dallas-area teams familiar with deep postseason runs, this season could feature a surprise team advancing to Georgetown.
In 6A Region I — arguably the state’s toughest region in girls soccer — Trophy Club Byron Nelson and Prosper are two programs that have never appeared in the state tournament but could this season.
Byron Nelson finished second in its district with its only losses coming to the area’s top 6A teams in Flower Mound and Southlake Carroll. It was the only team to challenge Carroll this year, ending their second match in a 4-4 tie.
Prosper finished third in a highly competitive District 5-6A behind Allen and Denton Guyer. Its only losses all year came against Guyer. Goalie Maggie Manning is among the area’s leaders in shutouts with seven.
In 6A Region II, which tends to be a wide open pool, Sachse could make a surprise run to the state tournament like its boys’ team did last year. It competed closely with reigning state semifinalist Wylie East all season, splitting its two-game series against its district rival.
Forney, Frisco Lone Star, Prosper Walnut Grove and Frisco Reedy are a handful of new names in a tough 5A Region II that could challenge traditional powers like Frisco Wakeland for the region’s spot in Georgetown.
Is the Dallas area poised for a third straight sweep?
Last spring, Flower Mound Marcus, Grapevine and Celina captured their respective state titles a season after Southlake Carroll, Frisco Wakeland and Celina did the same in 2022.
The Dallas area tends to dominate at the state tournament and has had at least one state champion every year since 1995 when Humble Kingwood won the only girls soccer title.
Southlake Carroll, Colleyville Heritage and Frisco Wakeland are among the favorites to win their respective titles again this year.
Celina is also the Dallas area’s best shot to win the 4A title and three-peat. It is still the favorite in its classification, but after dropping a few games earlier in the season, it’s proven to be beatable, which opens the door for out-of-area teams like Stephenville to strike.
Teams to watch
Southlake Carroll
Southlake Carroll didn’t lose a single game in the regular season and enters the postseason as the favorite to claim the Class 6A title — its fourth in program history. Carroll was in that same position last year and cruised through the start of the playoffs before falling to Flower Mound Marcus in the regional tournament when its star players Kennedy Fuller and Zoe Matthews were playing overseas for the U.S. under-16 national team. Carroll has been without Fuller all year, as she opted out of this season and recently signed a professional contract with Angel City FC. But her younger sister Kamdyn leads the team with 32 goals as just a sophomore.
Allen
Allen clinched its district title in 5-6A two weeks ago after sweeping second-place Denton Guyer. Its only loss on the year came to Flower Mound, as Allen has consistently been considered among the area’s best 6A teams this season. Averaging 4.6 goals while allowing 0.7, Allen has been led by goaltender Mia Sandborn (nine shutouts) and Texas commit Ava McDonald. Despite reaching the state tournament four times in program history, Allen has never won it all.
Frisco Wakeland
After reaching the state tournament in consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022 — and winning it all in 2022 — Wakeland had a down year for its standards last spring, finishing third in district and losing before the regional tournament. However, it has bounced back this winter with an 19-0-2 record, to claim the District 9-5A title. Wakeland has been one of the area’s best defensive teams, posting 14 shutouts with just 0.5 goals allowed per game this season.
Colleyville Heritage
After finishing fourth in its district last year and losing in the bi-district round, Colleyville Heritage has been a surprise undefeated team this year with a 18-0-2 record en route to claiming the District 7-5A title. Colleyville Heritage is a favorite in a manageable 5A Region I pool but may have to face Wakeland or other top 5A area teams if it reaches the state tournament. A state tournament berth this season would be its fourth ever and first since 2001.
Flower Mound
The District 6-6A champions emerged from the Dallas area’s toughest race, which immediately puts them in a prime position to compete for a spot in the state tournament. With only one loss all year coming to Hebron, Flower Mound has consistently been ranked as one of the area’s top girls teams. It has 10 shutouts in its 18 wins and also boasts one of the area’s leaders in assists in junior midfielder Haley Peek (18). Flower Mound won state titles in 2016 and 2021, so it could be Southlake Carroll’s toughest challenge in the Class 6A Region I pool.
Predictions
Class 6A
Region I final: Southlake Carroll over Flower Mound
Region II final: Sachse over Wylie East
State championship game: Southlake Caroll over Sachse
Class 5A
Region I final: Colleyville Heritage over Burleson Centennial
Region II final: Frisco Wakeland over Frisco Lone Star
State championship game: Colleyville Heritage over A&M Consolidated
Class 4A
Region I final: Stephenville over Salado
Region II final: Celina over Anna
State championship game: Celina over Stephenville
Twitter: @Lassimak
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