Evan Ghormley/TheWylieNews
Reilly Clark (5) goes shoulder to shoulder with a Wakeland player while in pursuit of the ball.

By David Jenkins
Staff Writer
[email protected]

MCKINNEY – The No. 5 state-ranked Lady Raiders passed their first postseason test against Frisco Wakeland with a 2-1 win during a Class 5A Region II bi-district match at Ron Poe Stadium.
“We had to scrap for that win. Frisco ISD always has good teams, and you know you’re going to get a game out of them,” head coach Kody Christensen said. “We could never quite get into a groove and build on those things. It was good to get the first win out of the way.”
Up next 6 p.m. Friday is Forney in the area round at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium in Rockwall.
“It is going to be a tough game. From here on out there’s not going to be an easy game,” Christensen said. “We are going to get every ones best game. We are looking forward to the next challenge.”
Forney opened the playoffs last week with a 2-0 victory over Dallas Wilson.
At McKinney, 10-5A champion East went up 1-0 on a Addie McCain goal off a Tori Smith corner kick.
Wakeland, fourth from 9-5A, answered 17 minutes later with a Hannah Mandell score.
Less than two minutes later, Valiree Morris found Lakyn Clark for a 2-1 lead after the opening 40 minutes.
“That second goal was huge,” Christensen said.
With the win in their faces, Wakeland made multiple runs in the second half, but were unable to convert.
“I knew having the lead and the wind was going to be big,” Christensen said. “The wind played like almost another defender.”
East held on for an eighth straight playoff win, dating back to last season’s run to the state finals.
Note: Rankings are from the Texas Girls Coaches Association Top 10.

Raiders fall in opener
MCKINNEY  – The Raiders postseason run was cut short in a 4-0 loss to state-ranked Wakeland in bi-district at Ron Poe Stadium.
Wakeland, which faces Mesquite Poteet next in area, scored a goal in the first half and three more during the final 40 minutes.
Wakeland used strong play from its midfield and got physical action from its forward in the opener.
East finished the season as the fourth place finishers from 10-5A with a record of 7-4-3.
Coming into the playoff opener, they had outscored the competition 11-0.