Highland Park’s girls soccer team gave Frisco Wakeland all it could handle Tuesday in a state-ranked battle at Highlander Stadium.
But it wasn’t enough against Wakeland’s high-powered attack.
Despite earning an early 1-0 advantage, the Lady Scots (ranked No. 20 in Class 5A by the Texas Girls Coaches Association) dropped a 2-1 decision to the Lady Wolverines (No. 3).
The win keeps Wakeland perfect on the year and alone in first place in District 11-5A action at 4-0, while HP drops to 6-2-2 overall and into second at 3-1 in district.
It took HP just six minutes to get on the board, breaking the scoreless deadlock when Londy Hutchinson ripped a shot into the upper-corner for a 1-0 advantage.
“We just caught them in transition and found Londy in the pocket,” said Chad Hobbs, HP head coach. “She put a nice little first touch on it and then whipped that ball to the back post. For a freshman to have the composure to do that is outstanding.”
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The Lady Scots held on tight from there and took a 1-0 lead to the break despite numerous scoring opportunities for the Lady Wolverines.
Perhaps Wakeland’s best chance came at the 22-minute mark, but HP keeper Taylor Cook leaped to her right to deflect the scoring chance out of bounds for a corner kick.
Minutes later, the Lady Scots had the benefit of good fortune, as blasts from Audrey Gilbert and Dilan Pistorius caromed off the crossbar and left post, respectively.
The second half brought much of the same, including another sprawling save by Cook to deflect a shot off the crossbar.
But the Wakeland attack proved too much with the Lady Wolverines finally breaking through moments later off a deflected ball in the box.
Wakeland then surged in front on a goal by Gilbert, who worked the ball up the right side of the pitch, got free and buried a shot past Cook into the left side of the net for what would ultimately be the game-winner.
“We talked at halftime about not sitting back in a defensive shell because they’re eventually going to score on us,” Hobbs said. “They just have too many attacking players, but that’s what we did. We sat too deep. Once we gave up the two goals, we came out and started playing and created a few chances. If we had done that a little earlier, maybe it’s different.”
Still, it was a confidence-building result for an HP team still finding its way in the young season and will look to bounce back at 5:30 p.m. Friday at The Colony.
“We have a few players back this year, but it’s a pretty brand new group with a lot of new faces,” Hobbs said. “We’re young and we’re still learning ourselves. We’re only nine games in here and we’re still learning for sure, but this was a positive step.”
