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Showdown goes to Texans ‘94
By Matt Welch Staff Writer
FRISCO — Twenty-five minutes into Wednesday’s Under-15 Finals matchup in the US Youth Soccer Region III Championships, Dallas Texans ’94 Red found itself in an unfamiliar situation.
After outscoring its previous tournament opponents 8-0, the Texans found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard, down 1-0 to Georgia-based NASA Elite II.
Through gritty play and tireless aggression, the Texans overcame not only an early deficit, but the loss of standout keeper, and Plano West player, Abby Smith to turn away Elite in overtime, 3-1, to advance to the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships.
With approximately 15 minutes left in regulation, Smith attempted to make a play on an incoming ball. In diving, Smith collided with a member from Elite’s squad, which opened up a near-four inch gash under the West goaltender’s chin. Paramedics applied a neck brace and carted Smith off the field to a chorus of applause from parents and other sideline spectators at Pizza Hut Park.
Cantrell said Smith’s injury would likely require 18 stitches.
Smith, who gave up her first goal in the past six games, was aided by forward and West teammate Brooke Herrick, who steered the Texans back on the tracks with a goal just minutes after Elite claimed an early lead.
Herrick was anything but tentative throughout the game, using her height to out-jump opponents and head balls to deny Elite from getting comfortable on offense.
“[Herrick] is a competitor,” Cantrell said. “She scored an unbelievable goal and at the end of the day, she has no fear and you never have to worry about her showing up to play.”
Elite pushed the pace right out of the gates, putting the Texans on the defensive early with a trio of corner kicks just minutes into the game. The Texans struggled to match the speed of Elite forward Ayana Moore, who knifed her way through the Texan defense and converted on a low shot attempt that grazed off Smith’s fingertips.
“[Elite] is a very dangerous team,” Cantrell said. “They’re probably one of the best teams in the country as well and we just happened to be on the better side of things today.”
Marred by early mistakes and miscommunication, the Texans upped the intensity in the second half, pressuring Elite’s defensive front on offense, while forcing them to settle for low-percentage shots on defense.
The Texans’ relentless pursuit carried well past regulation, where it out-shot Elite by a 6-1 count in the first of two overtime periods. Seemingly on the cusp of punching its ticket to victory, the Texans finally cashed in on a corner kick early in the second overtime that helped set up a score by forward Kelsey Shimmick.
A late surge from Elite was turned away by Texans midfielder Makenzie Koch, who booted the ball into Elite territory and right into the crosshairs of Schimmick. With only one defender separating Schimmick and Elite goalkeeper Alyse Scott, the reigning District 5-5A Freshman of the Year dumped the ball off to forward Mary Alissa Lonsberry, who converted for a 3-1 Texans lead.
With six consecutive days of play in the books, the Texans can now rest up for the national championships, which take place July 21-26 at Citizen Bank Fields at Progin Park in Lancaster, Mass.
“This is a great feeling,” Cantrell said. “This team went through a bit of adversity last year and we’ve been training for this moment for a year now.
“This club’s about winning national championships and we now have that opportunity.”
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