Late Surge Pushes Scots Into Title Tilt
By Mike Waters / Contributor
COPPELL — Almost four decades ago, Highland Park narrowly missed its first boys soccer state championship. Now the Scots will finally get a second chance.
A pair of second-half goals lifted the Scots past Saginaw 2-0 in the Class 5A Division II semifinals on Saturday, enabling HP to play for a championship for the first time since 1987. The Scots (20-1-2) will face Liberty Hill for the title on Friday in Georgetown.
Trey Shamburger drilled in a free kick from around 20 yards away in the 58th minute and Jack O’Grady added an insurance goal just over five minutes remaining.
“We made a few halftime adjustments that I thought would put us in better position,” said HP head coach Scott Turner. “And I thought we did a great job in the second half.”
Shamburger’s goal was set up when HP’s Jack Rhine collided with Saginaw goalkeeper Mario Rodriguez, who drew a red card on the play for illegally touching the ball outside the penalty area.
“We had multiple free kicks in the game and we were not able to convert,” said Shamburger. “But I felt I had a good angle, and I was able to slide it in. And that gave us momentum in a very tough defensive game.”
With the Rough Riders (14-10-2) playing shorthanded for the last 22 minutes of the game, O’Grady capitalized off a pass from Brock Nemeth for an insurance goal.
The Scots have won 15 straight games and have 15 shutouts this season, including three in the playoffs. HP has surrendered just 10 goals all season.
“This has been a fantastic journey for our team,” said Turner, who is in his third season guiding the program. “We are going to enjoy this semifinal win, then focus on Liberty Hill and get ready for that game. We look forward to the challenge.”
Liberty Hill (15-6-7) advanced to the championship after prevailing in a marathon shootout following a 2-2 tie against Montgomery Lake Creek in the other semifinal on Thursday.
Shamburger said he is “super excited” to be playing for a state championship. “And making history,” he added.
