SAN ANTONIO — Southlake Carroll welcomed a new coach this season in Justin Pudwill. It implemented a new playing style focused on balance.
The alterations, though, couldn’t keep the Dragons (20-3) from coming up short again at the UIL Class 6A water polo state championships.
Brazoswood used a strong second-half performance to defeat Southlake Carroll 14-8 Friday in the state semifinals at Josh Davis Natatorium in a matchup between teams that have participated in all three state tournaments since the sport was added by the UIL in 2022.
“I think the last two years we definitely wished we could’ve won,” said Southlake Carroll senior Sydney Rubin, who is headed to UC Davis. “This year, we were the underdogs this entire season. We clawed our way through playoffs, we clawed our way into state. We’re so proud of ourselves for getting to state, getting this bronze medal.”
The Buccaneers (27-2) outscored Southlake Carroll 10-2 in the second half to overcome a 6-4 halftime deficit, including a 4-0 margin in the final quarter.
Mallory Kesler and Larissa Bracken tallied four goals apiece, Kesleigh Corn chipped in three and Therese Braun added two for Brazoswood, which scored the game’s final six goals.
“That game had a lot of calls in it that we haven’t been used to,” Rubin said. “I think we had a hard time adjusting to that. At the end of the day, they were the better team.”
The Dragons (20-3) reached the state final a year ago and the state semifinals in 2022, falling both times to Richmond Foster, and had aspirations of getting over the hump with the hiring of Pudwill, who previously coached for a decade at the college level.
Things began well for Southlake Carroll when it scored only 50 seconds into the contest for a 1-0 lead, then added two more scores in the final minute of the second stanza to grab a two-goal advantage headed into the intermission.
Ella Le paced the Dragons with three goals. Rubin had two and Riya Erasani, Olivia Stubbs and Maile Farden notched one each. Goalkeeper Reagan Morris had 10 saves, including two on penalties.
Brazoswood took control in the second half, finding a groove on offense and keeping the Dragons at bay behind a defense led by goalkeeper Gigi Lower, who had 12 saves. The Buccaneers scored twice in 20 seconds to tie it at 6-6, then after Southlake Carroll pulled even at 8-8, they pulled away behind two goals each from Bracken and Corn.
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