Evan Ghormley/The Wylie News
Wylie East’s Jordyn Perry and Forney’s Caitlynne Smith (17) lock up, literally, as each tries to control the ball during last week’s area-round game in Rockwall. The Lady Raiders scored in the final minutes to produce a 1-0 victory.

By Greg Ford
Sports Editor
[email protected]

Different opponents, different styles, but the same outcome: Wylie East faced the first two, and was on the long end of the latter.
First, the defending state champ Lady Raiders downed Frisco Wakeland 2-1 in bi-district play, and then, this past Friday in Rockwall, East scored a last-minute goal to down Forney 1-0 in Class 5A, Region II area-round action. That latter victory set up a regional quarterfinal date Tuesday against Frisco, the team East beat in last year’s regional championship en route to a state crown. The contest was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Plano’s John Clark Stadium.
“We’ve played two different opponents,” head coach Kody Christensen said. “Frisco Wakeland was very technical and opened the field up. Forney was a little more defensive.”
In each case, the Lady Raiders adapted and were able to prevail. Against Wakeland, East used counterattacks to score both goals, and versus Forney, they controlled the tempo and kept attacking the goal until Addie McCain found the net with 1:24 left in regulation.
(To view he entire story, check out the April 6 edition of The Wylie News)