HOUSTON - Fuel up the cars and book the hotels because here comes Houston.
The 2019 UIL State Soccer Tournament field will boast an impressive five teams from the Houston-area beginning on Thursday morning with the Class 5A State Semifinals in Georgetown.
Kingwood Park makes return Trip
For the second-straight season, Kingwood Park is heading back to Georgetown.
With a remarkable senior class back in the fold this season, this isn't a surprise that the Panthers reached this round again.
Kingwood Park senior Allie Byrd (North Texas soccer signee) has led the charge for the Panthers, scoring 91 goals in her career now after this weekend. At the Region III-5A Tournament this weekend, Byrd scored an impressive five goals. In the last three matches, the Kingwood Park senior has scored eight times with a pair of hat tricks.
Kingwood Park will try and get past the state semifinal this year, which they fell in last year to eventual champion Frisco Wakeland.
“We're going to State!!" @kparkgirlsoc celebrates by lifting the Region III-5A Championship trophy. On to Georgetown. #UILState@KPark_Football@KParkGBBall@HumbleISD_KPHS@HumbleISD@HumbleISD_Athpic.twitter.com/VsZMwJkTD6
— VYPE Houston (@vypehouston) April 13, 2019
An Epic Comeback
Down 2-0 at halftime, it looked like the defending Class 6A Boys Soccer State Champions were in danger of not being able to return to Georgetown to defend its title.
The Rams battled back, scoring three goals in the second half to beat Spring Woods 3-2 and punch its ticket back to state.
This is Elsik's third trip to state in program history.
Historic Moment
Welcome Sharpstown into the group of state tournament first timers.
The Apollos defeated Kingwood Park 4-3 on Saturday to punch its ticket to the program's first state tournament. Prior to this season, Sharpstown hadn't reached a Regional Finals since the 2009 season. it was the lone appearance in a regional final prior to this season.
This is the third-straight season Houston ISD has sent a team to the state tournament. Last year it was Wisdom that represented HISD.
As far as state champions go for Sharpstown, the school hasn't had one since the early 80s. The lone two titles for the Apollos came from baseball in 1977 and 1982.
These Apollos are cleared for takeoff.
. @iamsharpstown receiving the Region III-5A Championship trophy for the first time ever. Apollos are clear for liftoff for Georgetown @HISDAthletics@abc13sports@DavidNunoABC13@joeagleason@BobSlovak13@tascosoccer@UIL_AD@goapollospic.twitter.com/8EhgfWAu2I
— VYPE Houston (@vypehouston) April 13, 2019
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Tompkins back Again!
Katy ISD will be sending yet another soccer team to the UIL State Soccer Tournament.
Tompkins defeated Kingwood 3-2 on Saturday to punch its ticket for the second time in three seasons. The Falcons last year fell to district-mate Cinco Ranch in the Region III-6A Final.
Katy ISD is seeking its second-ever soccer state champion. The last team to climb the mountain was Katy Taylor in 2006.
College Park Makes Historic Run
Before this season, College Park boys soccer had never made it out of the Area Round of the playoffs.
That all changed this spring.
With a 2-1 victory against Aldine on Saturday, the Cavaliers are heading to the program's first-ever state soccer tournament.
The last Conroe ISD boys soccer team to reach the state tournament was The Woodlands in 2010, now the Cavaliers will carry the banner for the district and try and bring home the first-ever boys soccer state title.