For the past year, the memory of that evening has haunted the LEE High School girls soccer team.

The missed scoring opportunities and a late turnover that led to the opponent’s winning goal were reminders that served as constant motivation to help right a perceived wrong.

Against the same opponent and on the same stage, the Volunteers got redemption. Sparked by goals in the early stages of each half, LEE blanked Steele 2-0 on Tuesday in a Class 6A bidistrict match at Blossom Athletic Center.

Steele topped the Volunteers 1-0 in the first round in 2023 on a goal with about 10 minutes remaining.

“The whole season we’ve been talking about this,” LEE senior defender and Texas Tech signee Kendall Jones said of the rematch. “We knew we were probably going to play somebody we knew, especially Steele. Losing to them last year, we knew we had to redeem ourselves.”

LEE (15-6-3) got its wish less than halfway through the first half when Jones tallied the game-winner off a free kick, sending the Volunteers to their first playoff win in five years and only the second since 1990. They edged Brandeis 3-2 in the first round in 2019.

“It’s definitely a big deal,” Jones said of the win, which propelled LEE into a second-round contest vs. District 26-6A champion Austin Anderson at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin.

The Volunteers led 1-0 at halftime and were close to the advantage being larger. Leading scorer Addison Miller had one attempt hit off the crossbar only eight minutes into the match and had several other promising threats come up just short.

Barely seven minutes into the second half, though, Miller connected to give LEE a 2-0 lead.

“In the playoffs, every opportunity is very important, so I have to make the most of whatever I get,” said Miller, a junior forward who is committed to UTSA and has 21 goals and 12 assists this season. “It can definitely get frustrating, but I just have to keep my mind straight and focus on the next one.”

LEE held the two-goal lead as the back line of Jones, Emerson Eaton, Abbigail Xin and Yuridia Castillo turned away Steele (13-4-4).

“Being the last line of defense, (if I make) one mistake and I’m done for,” LEE senior goalkeeper Taylor Hile said. “The rest of the team is done for. I just know my defenders have my back and I have theirs.”

MacArthur 4, McCollum 1: At Comalander Stadium, Lalina Wilson had two goals as the Brahmas rallied from an early deficit to secure their first playoff win since 2016 when they advanced to UIL state tournament and lost to Dallas Highland Park 3-1 in overtime in the state semifinals.

Bailey FitzSimon and Savannah Calzada had one goal apiece and Yoseline Lemus chipped in two assists for MacArthur, which will play at Liberty Hill at 6 p.m. Friday in a Class 5A second-round match.

Alita Uresti gave McCollum a 1-0 only seven minutes into the game when she converted on a penalty kick.

Boys
MacArthur 3, Medina Valley 2 (SO): The Brahmas escaped from the grips of defeat and garnered a dramatic 4A first-round triumph in penalty kicks.

MacArthur, which this season captured its first district title in 28 years, prevailed 4-3 in the extra session to advance to the second round and will play at Liberty Hill at 4 p.m. Friday.

Advancing in the playoffs, however, didn’t come easy. Medina Valley, who received goals from Jorge Patino and Arell Todd, took a 2-1 lead with 2:41 left and looked poise to record the upset. But MacArthur’s Tristan Detavernier produced the tying goal with 1:22 left to send the contest to overtime.

“I was kind of getting nervous,” Detavernier said. “It would’ve broken my heart for all of the seniors. I made it, and I’m glad I’m going to play another game with them.”

The teams went scoreless during the mandatory 20-minute overtime and penalty kicks were needed to decide a winner.

Jared Garibay, who scored in regulation, Aaron Villanueva, Jude Williams and Xander Langlards each scored for MacArthur’s during the shootout for a 4-3. advantage.

Medina Valley had a final chance to tie it and extend the shootout, but Brahmas goalkeeper Eric Delgado came up with a save.

“It’s not like district, where if we lose in penalty we just get a point,” Delgado said of playing in District 27-5A, which uses PKs as a tiebreaker during league play. “A playoff game is always difficult, that’s why we’re supposed to play extra hard. Thanks to all the hard work we do every day, it paid off.”

LEE 7, Steele 2: Martin Cruz netted three first-half goals and Jose Coronado added two in the second half as the Volunteers prevailed.

Bryce Pence and Aaron Correa Delgadillo scored for Steele (12-3-4) to tie it at 2-2 with 14 minutes left in the opening stanza before the Volunteers (15-8-1) reeled off five unanswered goals.

Ian Lea and Dylan Underwood each had a goal apiece in the second half for LEE, which plays Austin Bowie in a Class 6A second-round encounter at 7 p.m. Thursday at Burger Stadium in Austin.

Madison 1, Clemens 0: Saul Schriber scored the lone goal in overtime as the Mavericks recorded their first playoff win since 2001.

Madison (13-8-1), which is in the postseason for the first time in 23 years and the fifth time overall in 42 seasons, will play Austin Westlake in a 6A second-round contest at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at San Marcos High School.

Fox Tech 2, Uvalde 1: Ricardo Ramos scored two goals as the Buffaloes earned what is believed to be their first playoff victory since 1999.

Fox Tech advanced to the 4A second round and play at Marble Falls at 6 p.m. Thursday.

terrence@terrencesports.com
Twitter: @sa_terrence1