The crowd went wild as Wakeland High School’s boys’ soccer team fought hard in the final minutes, desperately trying to score against Poteet High School.
Down 3-2 in the third round of the state playoffs on Friday, March 28, 2025, the boys gave it everything they had. With just seconds remaining on the clock, Wakeland had a wonderful attack, one last shot in the final second flew toward the goal, only to be stopped by the goalkeeper. The final whistle blew, and Wakeland’s playoff hopes were over.
The match was a tight, back-and-forth struggle. Wakeland got on the board first, with a well-placed shot early in the game, but Poteet HS responded quickly.
At the half, the teams were tied in a 1-0 game (first game ended 1-0). Each team capitalized on scoring opportunities in the second half, which led to a 2-2 tie (on aggregate). Wakeland’s defense was pierced on a very quick counterattack, which produced the winning goal.
From his seat in the stands, freshman Bryce Braun reflected on the team’s determination: “Wakeland gave it all, they just weren’t able to do it. Maybe next year will be the year that they come back and win state.”
Although the defeat was painful, Wakeland’s season was highlighted by two big playoff wins heading into this contest. With a number of big players returning next year, the team is already looking forward to it. It is not time to give up.
Wakeland’s fans, who packed the stands throughout the season, remained loyal to the end. Even in defeat, they cheered their team off the field, knowing that the journey was far from over. The season might be finished, but the work must continue in order to be able to come back next year — even stronger.
Although the boys lost, the girls’ team still has a chance to win the state championship, especially after their insane victories, even scoring 8 goals in two of the games. The girls have two more games remaining and even the coaches emphasize the importance of keeping heads up “let’s rally behind Wakeland Girls Soccer and all the other talented programs at our amazing school,” said Coach Esfandary in a school-wide email.
“Let’s show them what W-Land is all about!”
