Unbeaten Ridge Point rolls to regional final
DEER PARK — Fort Bend Ridge Point advanced to the Region III-6A final after cruising past Atascocita 6-0 on Friday at Abshier Stadium.
The Lady Panthers, who remained perfect on the season at 25-0, will play the winner of Beaumont West Brook and Stratford in the regional final at 12:30 p.m. Saturday for a chance to go to the state tournament in Georgetown next week.
“I just saw my girls working hard,” Ridge Point coach Evelyn Torres said. “They just are really encouraged and motivated to win just one more game. That has been our mentality ... one more, one more game. They work hard like every game is going to be their last game.”
The Lady Panthers dominated early.
Zoe Main, who finished with two goals, sent one over Atascocita goalkeeper Maggie Caldwell’s head from 15 yards out to give Ridge Point its first goal at the 24:30 mark of the first half.
Hannah Warnken added another goal 30 seconds later.
“I feel speed is our friend, and it’s a key tactic that we have for our team that makes us special,” Torres said. “Just playing fast speed and aggressive is kind of our game plan going into every game.”
Main scored her second goal at the 16:29 mark in the first half after some fancy footwork through two Atascocita defenders.
Morgan Vinson (13:40) and Laurel Kelley (3:57) added goals in the first half as Ridge Point took a 5-0 lead. Kelsey Vaughn (30:20) added a goal in the second half.
The Lady Panthers are making their second appearance in a regional final and their first since the 2014-15 season. Another win will put them in the state tournament for the first time.
“I just want to see what I have been seeing all season,” Torres said. “I want them to play like it’s their last game. I want them to play as a team, and most importantly I want them to want it for themselves. This is a special group of girls.”
Atascocita, appearing in the Region III-6A tournament for the first time since 2018-19, finished the season at 17-6-2.