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Girls soccer: Drive for five remains alive: West headed to state after defeating Marcus in shootout
By Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Plano West junior keeper Claire Wheatley had trouble judging the Midland wind in the first half of Saturday's Region I Final against Flower Mound Marcus from Grande Communications Stadium.
Two hours later, the only trouble Wheatley had was judging how to evade all of her charging teammates as the Lady Wolves mobbed their keeper after she kept a blank slate during the shootout and propelled West to the Class 5A State Tournament, 3-2.
"We were a little worried because Marcus had just won in a shootout (against Southlake Carroll in the regional quarterfinals)," said Carley Phillips, West head coach. "But we had practiced enough for this situation and felt prepared. Plus, we had a lot of faith in Claire; she's a keeper that comes strong off her line and has lots of experience in these situations."
"We talked about that game a bit before we took the field," Phillips said. "I told the girls to remember the emotions of that day and remember how it felt watching a district opponent go to state."
West and Marcus, which split their regular-season series, were unsuccessful in the first two shootout attempts. The Lady Wolves, however, took a 1-0 advantage in Round 3 as senior Logan Beal converted and then Wheatley made a save. Sophomore Tori Gates was up next and she scored as well, making it 2-0 and putting the Lady Marauders in a must-score situation to end Round 4.
Marcus did not score, making Round 5 unnecessary and sending West to state.
"The whole team was huddled up on the sideline," Phillips said. "And when [Marcus] didn't make that last one ... it was just pure joy. Everyone ran out onto the field; there were tears, smiles, people tackling Claire and Tori."
If the shootout was pure joy, the first half was pure frustration as West battled Marcus and the wind.
The Lady Marauders came out attacking, scoring in the first five minutes and doubling their advantage midway through the first half as goals from Katelyn Mountjoy and Natalie Schmutz made it 2-0 at the break.
"We had chances in the first half," Phillips said. "And we felt like we were still in it because it was going to be a totally different ballgame in the second half with the wind."
Much like it did two rounds prior against Flower Mound, West controlled the second half against another district rival. The Lady Wolves cut the Lady Marauders' advantage to 2-1 in the 46th minute off a shot by junior Taylor Barg that was picked up and put in by Beal.
West's next goal didn't come during the normal run of play, rather off a free kick.
And when it comes to set pieces over the last month, senior Karson Keogh is usually the Lady Wolves' go-to gal. Saturday in Midland was no different as Keogh netted the equalizer off a free kick from 35 yards out in the 59th minute.
"Karson has definitely stepped it up, especially on the free kicks," Phillips said. "She puts the ball on frame and engages the keeper."
Both teams attempted to engage the keeper for the remainder of regulation and overtime, but neither was successful, keeping the score at 2-2 and necessitating the shootout. A 2-0 advantage there gave West the 3-2 win and its first trip to state since 2007. That season, the Lady Wolves won their fourth Class 5A State Championship.
"Today, I think the girls showed how much they want this," Phillips said. "They just don't want to lose."
West faces Klein Oak in the state semis at 11 a.m. today from Birkelbach Field in Georgetown. The finals are 11 a.m. Saturday at the same site.
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