By Sarah VanderPol
Staff Photographer
@SarahVanderPol
GEORGETOWN – With only 46 seconds left, sophomore center back Sarah Houchin scored the one and only goal of the Class 6A state semifinal match against San Antonio Reagan resulting in a 1-0 victory for the Coppell Cowgirls soccer team on Friday at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.
The Cowgirls advance to Saturday’s Class 6A state championship match at 4 p.m. against fellow unbeaten Highland Park.
“Right after [the goal] I was really happy. I knew since it was going down to the last minute, right then was our last chance. Either we score there or we go into overtime and maybe penalty kicks. When it went in, I was so relieved. It was just a great time,” Houchin said.
According to CHS girls soccer coach Chris Stricker, Houchin was certainly one of the most valuable players in the game, not only for her goal, but for her defense as well.
“Sarah Houchin made [Reagan’s] offense struggle because their center forward could never keep the ball. Sarah took it from her every time. She was definitely a force back there,” Stricker said.
Other valuable players in the game include senior midfielder Grace Vowell and junior left back Emma Jett.
“I thought Grace Vowell played lights out. She was very solid for us in the middle.” Stricker said. “Emma Jett has been solid for us all year. I don’t know if this was her best game, but she was still a difference maker.”
With countless shots on goal and no goals to show for it, it was clear that this game was frustrating for the Cowgirls. However, the Cowgirls continued to fight and it paid off.
“The mark of a good team is resilience and whether you can stick with it and work hard so I think that we really did well in that respect. I don’t think it was our best game finishing wise, but we created a lot of chances and we won,” Stricker said. “Soccer is not always a fair game. You have to stick with what you’re doing well and get after it.”
Reagan’s defense fought to keep the Cowgirls from scoring, saving and deflecting nearly every shot that came at them.
“That team, they fought and there is something to be said about that. They showed a lot of courage and a lot of fight,” Stricker said.
With a perfect record thus far at 23-0-3, the Cowgirls look to continue their winning streak tomorrow at the state championship game against Park and its undefeated record.
