The Lady Dragons set a school record with a 30-3 season and advanced to the State 5A Final against Plano West.
Dragon Sports by Rick Herrin
Carroll wasbrovertaken by soccer fever this spring.
The Dragonsbrand Lady Dragons each finished remarkable seasons, enjoying long playoff rides,brmemorable road trips and spectacular play-making. The two programs fed off eachbrother, and the successful conclusion included a regional semifinalist and statebrfinalist.
The LadybrDragons, led by coach Matt Colvin, found a special season with a uniquebrunit. His team had star power, anbrabundance of college talent, budding youth and a foundation of tremendousbrleadership and chemistry.
“The 15brseniors displayed unbelievable leadership,” Colvin says. “Our team had verybrspecific and measurable goals, and the seniors kept our team focused on those objectives.brThey had an all-in mentality.”
It almost ended with a state championship, but the Lady Dragons fell 4-1 in thebrClass 5A state championship to powerhouse Plano West. While painful, the lossbrcan't wipe away a school record-setting 30-3 season.
Led by SouthbrCarolina-bound scorer Sophie Groff, the Lady Dragons were nearly invincible. Thosebrwatching the Region I tournament witnessed the toughness and edge this team possessedbrdefeating Hebron and Marcus. From Julia Dyche's big plays and Meghan Murphy'sbrunstoppable headers to amazing defense by Alison Savage and Taylor Valentinebrand goalkeeper Tori Stephens' regular shutouts, these Lady Dragons could do abrlittle of everything.
Along thebrway, Groff became the program's all-time leading scorer with an amazing 87brgoals in four years.
“She has allbrthe physical tools needed to be a great player,” Colvin says. “But it's herbrcompetitive drive that sets her apart from other players. Over the last twobryears she has grown into a fantastic leader. Her teammates respect and listenbrto her because she truly cares about them.”
On the otherbrside of the field, Stephens set the program's all-time career shutout recordbrand Savage, a senior, set a record by playing in more than 110 games with thebrLady Dragons.
Meanwhile,brthe boys were making a deep playoff run in a much different manner. Coach Greg Oglesby'sbrDragons were hampered by key injuries and untimely illnesses that swept throughbrthe team, but with great perseverance they battled back to win the district title.
“It was abrgreat season,” Oglesby says. “We had tremendous chemistry, and they reallybrplayed for each other. I think that helped us in the playoffs when we had to gobrto Midland twice.”
Without abrdominant scorer, the Dragons relied on teamwork and multiple scoring threats thatbrall came through when needed. Jack Parrish led the team with 10 goals, whilebrsix Dragons scored four or more on the season.
“You neverbrknew where the goals were going to come from,” Oglesby says.
They had tobrdo it in crunch time as well. Down 1-0 in the Region I quarterfinal to El PasobrMontwood after allowing a goal with 1:42 left, the season appeared over. Thatbrwas until Parrish, a junior midfielder, answered with 50 seconds left to forcebrovertime and an eventual victory. Parrish also provided the game-winner inbrovertime.
“The kidsbrfought, and it's unbelievable the mindset they had,” Oglesby says. “They werebrnever down on themselves, and they just kept fighting.”
Just likebrthey did on the day the season ended. Marcus kept scoring, and the Dragons keptbrcountering. Carroll fell 4-3, but a flurry in the last five minutes nearlybrforced overtime. Carroll, which went 21-5-4, was down 2-0 and 3-1 beforebrrallying.
Tommy Price,bra senior midfielder, led the team with seven assists and finished second inbrgoals with seven.
“I had somebrkids step up and earn some minutes, and it was a real testament to those kidsbrwith a team-first attitude to do whatever was needed,” Oglesby says.
That's whatbrmakes great seasons.
Photo Credit - Rex Teter Photography
Rick Herrin is the Carroll ISD Communications and Marketing Department's Video Webmaster. He also works closely with the athletic department covering events and managing sports news for the district. He is a long-time follower of Dragon athletics and formerly covered Carroll as a sports reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Grapevine Sun.