Rodney Wooters / Woo Doo Photo
The Lady Dragons are one step closer to the state soccer tournament after a heart-stopping win Friday in McKinney.
Carroll punched its ticket to the regional final with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Prosper, a match defined by discipline, pressure and a single breakthrough. With limited chances on both sides, sophomore Macie Colvin delivered the decisive play in the second half, converting the team’s first shot on goal into the game-winner.
On the play, senior captain Payton Hayes worked her way to the end line and sent in a driven ball that found Colvin, whose header powered through the goalkeeper’s hands and into the net.
Carroll will face Denton Guyer Wildcats in the regional final on March 31 at the Birdville Fine Arts/Athletics Complex, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
Carroll, ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 6A Division II, controlled possession throughout much of the night. The Lady Dragons applied consistent pressure, especially in the first half, earning multiple corner kicks and limiting Prosper’s attacking rhythm. Defensively, Carroll stayed organized, winning key aerial battles and quickly reclaiming possession to maintain control.
Senior defender Ava Sexton played a crucial role in anchoring the back line, helping neutralize Prosper’s attempts to generate offense through quick counterattacks and long balls. Even as Prosper searched for an equalizer late, Carroll’s structure held firm.
The match remained tense until the final whistle. Prosper’s goalkeeper made several key stops to keep the contest within reach, while Hayes nearly added an insurance goal with a long-range strike that rattled the crossbar in the closing minutes.