Temperatures were high and tensions were higher as the varsity girls’ soccer team competed against district rivals Round Rock for round five of the playoffs. Both teams traveled to San Antonio on Friday, April 7, to compete for the round four games the day prior, and faced constant rain and lightning, pushing back both games by five hours. Despite this, the energy on the field remained constant and heightened as each second on the clock went down during warmups.

The game began with the Warriors stringing consistent passes around the Dragons. Five minutes into the game, the Warriors were awarded a corner kick, which Mia Wiele ‘26 took. The team created chaos in the box, giving Kate Cooper ‘24 a direct opportunity to smash the ball into the goal with a header. The team rejoiced, screaming and cheering on and off the field. As the Warriors jogged up to their side of the field to prepare for the next play, their intensity only increased. The Warriors maintained a majority of the possession during the first half and used set pieces to move the ball up the field. Less than halfway through the first half, Wiele took another corner kick, and Abby Burgett ‘23 scored first touch into the goal. The first half ended with a score of 2-0.

The second half started with the same intensity as the first half, with the Warriors maintaining strong possession and using free kicks, throw-ins, and goal kicks to their advantage. Although the Warriors were up 2-0, they continued to work hard to build from the back and counter from the front. Halfway through the half, Tayte Webster ‘23 received a breakaway pass and dribbled the ball up the field with the Dragon defensive line trailing behind her. Webster volleyed the ball over the keeper, and Padt Skawratananond ‘23 and Carla Canfran ‘25 ran toward the ball. Canfran kicked the ball into the net while Skawratananond blocked the keeper’s view and shielded a defender from getting to it. The rest of the game remained constant, with the Warriors maintaining a strong defensive line and making strategic passes to move the ball up the field.

“After winning the Round Rock game, I felt accomplished because our team has never beaten Round Rock before this season,” Skawratananond said. “We lost the past two times and I think that everything led up to this point to win against them because we worked together as a whole team and we did a really good job defending everything and attacking.”

The game ended 3-0, with the Warriors advancing to the state tournament. This was the Warriors’ first time advancing in 24 years. The state tournament took place on Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15. The Warriors lost to Marcus 4-0, and received their third-place state medals. Friday’s game marked an end to the Warriors’ “revenge tour” season. The team will begin competing again next December.