Scots Forced to Forfeit State Title Game
UPDATE: In a stunning development, Highland Park has been stripped of the Class 5A Division II boys soccer title after the Scots used an ineligible player in Friday’s championship game.
HP officials discovered the violation after the 2-0 win over Liberty Hill and self-reported to the UIL late Friday. According to UIL bylaws, the minimum penalty is forfeiture, meaning that Liberty Hill has been awarded the championship.
The Scots will have to retroactively forfeit every win in which the ineligible player participated, including regular season and playoffs. The impact on previous games and any other potential fallout is still being determined.
This story is developing, and will be updated further when we learn more. The original recap of the game is below.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Highland Park polished off the best boys soccer season in school history appropriately with the program’s first state championship.
The Scots scored on two first-half set pieces during a dominating 2-0 win over Liberty Hill in the Class 5A Division II title game on Friday in Georgetown.
Making their first appearance in a state championship game since 1987, the Scots earned their first crown to join the seven for their girls counterparts in continuing to grow the school’s vast soccer legacy.
HP finished the season with 16 straight victories, including three consecutive postseason shutouts, and surrendered just 10 goals all season.
Maintaining an energetic pace, the Scots (21-1-2) controlled possession and had the majority of the scoring opportunities, especially in the first half.
Jack O’Grady, who was named the championship game MVP, opened the scoring in the fifth minute off a long throw-in by Jake Rhine that took a high bounce over the head of the Liberty Hill goalkeeper.
The second tally came in the 22nd minute off another set piece, on a leaping header by Hafeey Shah off a corner kick from Sebastian Benitez into the back of the box.
Another opportunity midway through the first half came on a Jack Madsen volley from a corner kick that was blocked in front of goal. Moments later, Brock Namath’s shot on frame resulted in a diving stop.
The Scots held a 12-4 advantage in shots in the first half, when they had the wind at their backs. Chances were more even after halftime, but the HP defense was able to repel any serious threats by the Panthers (15-7-7).
Justin Ratner made five saves to record the clean sheet for HP, which posted 16 shutouts in 24 games this season.
O’Grady and Rhine combined for nine of HP’s 16 shots and half of the 10 attempts on goal, as both proved difficult for the Liberty Hill defense to mark consistently.
This year’s Scots were able to finally avenge the heartbreaking 1-0 defeat against San Antonio Alamo Heights from 38 years ago.
HP took advantage of the UIL splitting the soccer playoffs into two divisions within each classification for the first time. The number of statewide boys championship games — and champions — doubled from three to six.
The Scots slid into the Division II bracket because the only two schools with higher enrollment in District 12-5A, Frisco Reedy and Carrollton Turner, both qualified for postseason play and took Division I slots. It’s the only sport during this school year in which HP has played in 5A Division II.
Liberty Hill, which finished fourth in District 25-5A during the regular season, made an underdog run to its first state championship contest in a decade.
