Wylie East senior Trystan Wischnewsky (20) scored a goal during the Lady Raiders’ 3-1 loss to Forney in Tuesday’s Region II-6A Division II Final at Mesquite’s Memorial Stadium. Photo by Kim Dill Higginbotham / C&S Media
By Mark Saldana
MESQUITE — The Wylie East Lady Raiders saw their season come to an end Tuesday night, falling 3-1 to Forney in the Class 6A Region II Final at Mesquite Memorial Stadium.
Wylie East (22-5) battled early, matching Forney’s intensity in a defensive opening stretch as both teams held each other scoreless through the first 10 minutes. However, Forney (27-1) quickly shifted momentum and took control of the match midway through the first half.
Forney broke through at the 29:50 mark to take a 1-0 lead, then struck again just over a minute later at 28:25 to extend the advantage. The Lady Raiders had opportunities to respond, including a near goal from Sophie Preston that sailed just wide right and a corner kick chance that was denied by Forney’s defense.
Despite Wylie East’s efforts, Forney continued to apply pressure and added a third goal at 20:50, taking a commanding 3-0 lead into halftime.
“They came out aggressive and capitalized on their opportunities,” said Wylie East head coach Kody Christensen. “We had some looks early, but against a team like that, you have to finish your chances.”
The Lady Raiders showed resilience in the second half, highlighted by strong play from junior goalkeeper Hailey Fincher, who made multiple key saves to keep the deficit from growing. Lomax came up with several big stops, including back-to-back saves early in the half to slow Forney’s momentum.
Wylie East found a spark at the 36:39 mark when Trystan Wischnewsky delivered a goal to cut the deficit to 3-1. The score injected energy into the Lady Raiders, but Forney’s defense held firm down the stretch.
“They never quit,” Christensen said. “I’m proud of the fight they showed, especially in the second half. That goal was a great moment for us, and it says a lot about this group’s character.”
While the loss ends Wylie East’s playoff run, the Lady Raiders capped off an impressive season that included a deep postseason push and a trip to the regional final.
“This group set a standard,” Christensen said. “They worked hard all year, stayed together, and represented our program the right way. It’s a tough loss, but there’s a lot to be proud of.”
Forney advances to the state semifinals following the 3-1 victory, while Wylie East closes its season with momentum and a strong foundation for the future.
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