Red Oak Ends Playoff Run for Lady Scots

By Randy Jennings / Contributor

MANSFIELD — By almost all statistical measures, Highland Park dominated Red Oak in their Class 5A Division I Region II semifinal clash on Friday at Newsom Stadium.

In shot attempts, time of possession, passes completed and corner kicks, the Lady Scots held a one-sided advantage. But the edge in the most important category — goals — belonged to the Lady Hawks.

Red Oak’s Aja Nelson scored from a distance of 40 yards with 2:41 remaining to hand HP a 2-1 defeat and end its hopes for an eighth UIL state title.

“We controlled every phase of the game and gave up just two shots,” said HP head coach Chad Hobbs. “It is tough to take. Red Oak had a really nice shot to win it. I just feel like the way we played, we should have gotten more out of the match.”

The Lady Scots (18-4-2) fought back from a 1-0 halftime deficit with sustained attacks but get only one shot past Red Oak keeper Londyn Artis and the Hawks’ packed-in defense.

Nelson, who entered with a team-high 23 goals, took possession of the ball near midfield at full speed along the right hashmark and unleashed a powerful shot that caught the outstretched hands of the Scots keeper on its way to the net.

“It was unreal,” said Nelson, a Southeastern Louisiana signee. “I didn’t have much hope for it. We knew technically Highland Park was better and would control the ball so we had to take advantage of the chances we had.”

The teams entered the match with strikingly similar scoring numbers, 83 goals scored for HP and 14 allowed. Red Oak also had allowed 14 while scoring 81.

“It is one of the biggest wins ever for our program,” said Red Oak head coach Adam Prachyl. “Our defense stayed together and we got a couple of great stops from Londyn.”

The Lady Scots asked most of the questions in the first half but Red Oak owned a 1-0 intermission lead on a follow shot from close range by Tatiyana Beamon in the 33rd minute. The sophomore was quick to react when a 39-yard free kick ricocheted off the crossbar.

The only yellow card of the very physical game half led to the free kick.

Artis made a sprawling dive to her right to snuff out the best HP scoring chance in the first half, denying junior midfielder Whitney Gross a minute prior to the Red Oak goal.

The Lady Scots equalized 61 seconds into the second half when junior Reese Liner deflected Addie Brink’s well-placed corner inside the far post.

Red Oak, prior to Nelson’s dramatics, fought off numerous HP bids to take the lead. Artis came up big again with 10 minutes left, stopping a shot by Gross.

HP had its deepest playoff run since 2022 when it lost in the Region II finals to Frisco Wakeland. While in Class 6A the last two seasons, the Lady Scots lost in the second round.

“I’m super proud of our team and the leadership from our seniors,” said Hobbs.