Jeff Goolsbey / Times Record News Wichita Falls High School’s Kaitlin Foran (left) heads the ball against Rider’s Katelyn Grassi during the first half of Friday’s district contest at Memorial Stadium.. Jeff Goolsbey / Times Record News Wichita Falls High School’s Victoria Franco (right) kicks the ball away from Rider’s Kinsley Wingate during the second half Friday at Memorial Stadium. The game ended in a scoreless draw to lock up the district title for the Lady Raiders, who allowed only one goal in district play this season. Jeff Goolsbey / Times Record News Rider's Haley Boydston (left) works the ball around Wichita Falls High School's Shannon Spruiell in the second half Friday at Memorial Stadium. Katy Catney (left) of Rider and Wichita Falls High School's Macy Martinez compete for the ball in the second half Friday at Memorial Stadium. WFHS — Taylor Holden

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March 13, 2010

By Andy Newberry Times Record News

Carl Wiersema said the “wind destroyed the game” Friday night in Rider-Old High III at Memorial Stadium.

The stiff breeze made passing difficult and the best chances of the night came on free kicks, but it didn’t stop the Rider Lady Raiders from laying claim to the District 9-4A championship with a 0-0 draw.

Rider (16-3-3, 9-0-1) will enter the playoffs as the district champ after shutting out the potent Lady Coyote attack twice. The Lady Raiders allowed only one goal in 10 district matches.

Senior goalkeeper Kathleen Stewart just got a hand on Taylor Holden’s free kick in the 15th minute. That was the closest Wichita Falls High School would come until Payton Fookes’ shot went off the crossbar in the final minute.

“I thought it was going in,” Holden said of her free kick. “I was excited.”

The perfectly-placed free kick, in the upper far corner of the net, was going in until Stewart came to the rescue. It may not have been as dramatic as Stewart’s penalty-kick save in the last meeting, but it changed the game as the Lady Raiders didn’t have to come from behind to claim the district title that belonged to Old High a year ago.

“It would have gone in,” Stewart said. “These (rivalry) games are so intense. There are so many emotions and everybody wants to win.

“Our team has really come together, and it’s made for a great senior year.”

Stewart hopes both teams can have success in the playoffs and advance to the Region I-4A tournament on April 2-3 in Wichita Falls.

The Lady Raiders had a few chances in the second half, mostly because of the strong leg of Katy Catney.

Catney nearly drove Old High keeper Tori Shannon into the net on a 50-yard free kick and later she served a ball in from long range, nearly connecting with the head of Abby Watts for a goal.

But like Stewart, Shannon was up to the task and combined with Breanna Wachsman, who played the first half, for a shutout.

“We played better against the wind,” said Holden, who along with Brianne Bates in the back kept a handle on Rider forward Brooke Deason and handled the long punts or drop-kicks of Stewart without adventure.

“Those hurt a little bit,” Holden said of stopping Stewart’s drives. “We’re excited for the playoffs.”

WFHS (16-2-3, 8-1-1) will also have a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The Lady Coyotes and Lady Raiders will begin their playoff season on March 22 or 23.

“I thought our back four really did a great job tonight,” WFHS coach Rob Woodard said. “I feel good with what happened. Obviously, I wish we had won, but I’m very pleased with the way we played.”

Rider had an unofficial lead of 9-8 in shots.

“We had a few chances and they had a few chances,” Wiersema said. “It was one of those games where you just had to hang on.

“But I’m very confident in our defense. I don’t want to get cocky, but I think it’s going to take a really good team or a breakdown on our part for someone to get through us right now.”

Standouts for Rider included Krista Duke, Katelyn Grassi, Abby Watts and Madison Holmes.

For Old High, Holden made defensive plays and was involved in the attack while Fookes took a game-high five shots.

The teams also tied in last year’s regular-season finale, making the rivals 1-1-2 in the last four meetings.