Girls soccer dynasty: Fort Worth-area SPC squad wins fourth consecutive title

DALLAS

The Zavaleta sisters made sure the Fort Worth Trinity Valley Trojans would claim their fourth consecutive girls’ soccer Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) 3A championship as they rolled to a 6-0 triumph over host Episcopal School of Dallas Eagles Saturday at Jones Field.

Paige Zavaleta and Alli Zavaleta, a senior, scored two goals apiece to lead the Trinity Valley attack.

“So very special to be a part of my first one,” said Paige. “I watched on the sidelines the last three years as my sister and the team won championships. And to finally be able to experience it first-hand is just amazing.”

The younger Zavaleta, who registered four goals in Trinity Valley’s 7-0 semifinal victory over rival Fort Worth Country Day, added that it was just “incredible” to share this title playing alongside her sister, and great teammates.

Senior Charlotte Goldman opened the scoring for Trinity Valley, with a close-range shot less than eight minutes into the match, and assisted on Paige Zavaleta’s goal just past the midway point of the 40-minute first-half, as the Trojans held a 2-0 advantage at intermission.

Top-seeded Trinity Valley (12-2-0) came out of the break poised to finish the job. Paige Zavaleta punched in her second goal just over 10 minutes into the second half. Then Alli Zavaleta found net on back-to-back goals over a nine-minute span to push the Trojans lead to 5-0. Senior Audrey Deem, one of the team captains, rounded out the scoring with a tally in the final minute.

Goldman, also one of the team captains, is one of four Trojan players to have been a part of all four soccer championships —seniors Sydney Fewins, Isabel Gonzalez and Brown signee Claire McKnight are the others.

“I think this one is the most special,” said Goldman, thinking about the four straight titles. “Closing out our high school careers like this is just phenomenal. I am so grateful to have been a part of this program.”

Trinity Valley, which drew a first-round bye, had beaten Episcopal School of Dallas, 5-2, in a regular season meeting Jan. 30th.

Head coach Claire Pearce was excited for her team, especially the seniors.

“So very proud of everything this team, these seniors, have accomplished,” said Pearce. “Credit to the players.”

Pearce also lauded the play of Goalie Blake Corder, who posted a pair of shutouts in the two playoff wins.

“Just an outstanding job in goal by Blake Corder,” said Pearce. “We graduated our goalkeeper last year, and Blake came in and we did not skip a beat.”

ESD (5-5-1) had blanked The Woodlands John Cooper, 5-0, in the semifinal after ousting Arlington Oakridge, 4-1, in the quarterfinals.

Prior to the 2023 season, Trinity Valley won its only other girls’ soccer league title in 2003, when a single champion was crowned. Beginning with the 2023 season, SPC was split into 4A and 3A classifications, and the Trojans have captured each 3A championship since then.

Adding to a massive trophy case

Coach Pearce has described herself as a “Fort Worth Trinity Valley lifer”, as the alum enjoyed a distinguished high school career playing both soccer and field hockey at Trinity Valley. A 2001 graduate from FWTV, Pearce earned a field hockey scholarship to Division I Wake Forest, enjoying an incredible four-year stint for the Lady Demon Deacons.

Pearce was a part of three straight NCAA Division I field hockey national titles from 2002-2004, as Wake Forest is one of only three DI schools to three-peat in field hockey since 1981 (North Carolina and Old Dominion has each accomplished the feat twice over that 45-year span).

Pearce returned to Trinity Valley, becoming the field hockey head coach in 2005 as well as girls soccer. The Lady Trojans last Fall captured their third straight SPC 3A field hockey title, defeating Oklahoma City Casady in the championship final each time after a runner-up finish in the 2022 matchup against Casady.

Heading up two successful programs — soccer and hockey — is both “rewarding” and “challenging”, Pearce said.

Familiarity makes the task easier, as 12 of the 17 members of this year’s championship soccer team were also part of last Fall’s field hockey title squad.

“Expectations,” said Pearce. “They know what to expect from me, and I know what to expect from them.”

“It starts with culture,” noted Pearce. “These girls, both in soccer and field hockey, have created this winning tradition.”

Pearce cites the usual qualities that make for a successful program.

“Leadership. High character. Togetherness. Accountability. And a genuine love for one another,” she said. “These girls have those qualities. They all want to carry on the tradition. A winning tradition.”