Lady Blues soccer wins first playoff game in program history
By News Staff,
2024-03-26(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The Lady Blues lift the bi-district trophy up and celebrate together after defeating Borger in a bi-district matchup. The win was the Lady Blues’ first playoff victory in the program’s history as they beat the Lady Bulldogs 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout.
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham’s Adi Pinkston fights for the ball with a Borger player and tries to get past her towards the goal during the Lady Blues’ bi-district game against Borger. The Lady Blues defeated the Lady Bulldogs 4-3 in penalty kicks after tying 2-2 in regulation.
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham’s Mai Bara escapes with the ball from multiple Borger defenders and works her way up field during the Lady Blues’ bi-district win Monday, March 25.
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham’s Kinsley Amburn (8) maneuvers with the ball around multiple Borger players during a bi-district matchup between the two teams Monday, March 25. The Lady Blues came out on top in a penalty kick shootout 4-3.
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Senior Sophie Schlieper loads up for a long free kick while coach Tim Wankowicz looks on from the sideline during Graham’s 4-3 penalty kick bi-district win over Borger.
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham goalkeeper Taylor Lauster reacts to the ball and goes to make a save during the penalty kick shootout in the Lady Blues’ bi-district game against Borger. Lauster made multiple critical saves throughout the game and the shootout to help the team earn the victory.
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The Lady Blues players rush the field and celebrate together after defeating Borger 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout to secure the first playoff win in Graham girls soccer history.
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham’s Lady Blues players and coaches pose with the golden bi-district trophy after they defeated Borger 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout Monday, March 25. This was the program’s first playoff victory in their existence.
Chances to make history don’t come around often. For the Graham Lady Blues soccer team, a program in its seventh year of existence, that opportunity came Monday in Wichita Falls in a bi-district playoff game against the Borger Lady Bulldogs.
After a wild, windy afternoon of soccer, which included two overtime periods and a penalty kick shootout, the Lady Blues claimed their first playoff win in program history with a 4-3 PK victory over the Lady Bulldogs.
The two teams finished regulation tied 2-2 after Borger went up 2-0 in the first half and Graham tied things up in the second half. During the regular season, ties mean teams immediately go into PKs, but in the playoffs, the teams played two extra 10-minute periods to see if anyone could score again before needing the shootout.
“I normally don't get nervous or my guts don't start hurting and stuff like that,” head coach Casey Weil said. “But the girls have played well all year and have done a lot of things the right way; I thought that they deserved to win the game.”
The outcome came down to the wire in both regulation and in the shootout, as the Lady Blues outdueled the Lady Bulldogs to pull out the win. The victory required sudden-death PKs and a few monumental saves from goalkeeper Taylor Lauster.
In the shootout, Graham received the first draw. Adi Pinkston went first and knocked hers in followed by Macee Wilde scoring hers. The Lady Blues led 2-1 after Lauster saved Borger’s second shot.
Graham held onto that 2-1 lead for four shots, as Lauster blocked two shots and another one missed high above the goal. Unfortunately, the Lady Blues’ next three kickers all missed their shots to clinch the win. Borger finally made their fifth shot to tie the PKs at 2-2 and force sudden-death.
The Lady Blues went first again as Camden Thorne scored easily to put the team up 3-2. Borger scored their shot to tie it at 3-3 and Mylee Lattimore then fired another one in for Graham to give them the 4-3 lead.
Lauster readied herself in the goal and as the Lady Bulldog fired, the sophomore goalkeeper moved to her right and knocked the shot up and over the goal to seal the victory for the Lady Blues and secure history for Graham.
Players rushed the field and mobbed each other in celebration of the marvelous accomplishment. After shaking hands with the opposing team, the Lady Blues met at the middle of the field and were presented with the golden bi-district trophy, the first in girls program history.
“We keep doing things better and better all year long and (the Lady Blues) finally got a gold ball,” Weil said.
Leading up to the stunning finale, the Lady Blues overcame adversity all game, particularly in the form of the wind. Gusts blew strong all afternoon as each side dealt with the powerful wind in each half of the game.
Graham started the game in the first half going against the wind, and Borger took advantage as they powered in two goals in the first 25 minutes of the game to go up 2-0. The Lady Blues made it to halftime without allowing any further damage and looked forward to having the wind at their backs in the second half.
It didn’t take long for the Lady Blues to fight back as they scored their two goals in the first six minutes of the half. The first came on a corner kick from Sophie Schlieper that found its way to Ava Street near the net, who managed to fire it in from close range past the goalkeeper.
Nearly three minutes later, one of the Lady Blues got fouled in the box which gave Graham a penalty kick. Pinkston took the shot for Graham and fired it to the left side of the net past the Lady Bulldogs’ keeper for the game-tying goal.
The two teams battled back and forth the rest of the regulation and Lauster made another huge save with five seconds remaining. One of Borger’s players had broken past Graham’s defensive line and faced a one-on-one shot at the goal.
Lauster dove to her right side and deflected the ball out of bounds with the game clock hitting zero a few seconds later to force overtime. And a wild shootout later the Lady Blues walked off with a trophy.
“They truly have put the effort out here on the soccer fields,” Weil said. “It just shows that they're going in the right direction, and I truly do think that they deserve everything that they've gotten.”
The Lady Blues move to the area round of the playoffs and will take on San Elizario at neutral field Astound Broadband Stadium in Midland at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 28.
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