The 2025 Randall Lady Raider soccer team will now be known as nothing other than history makers that broke down walls for high school soccer in the Texas Panhandle.
The Lady Raiders became the exact definition of Pioneers as they are the first soccer team from the Amarillo-area that will play for a UIL state championship after blanking Aubrey 1-0 during a Class 4A Division II state semifinal game at Burkburnett on Friday evening.
Randall, which had been to a state tournament semifinal in 2010, is now set to play for the programs first ever state title when they battle a very good Wimberly (24-1-2) squad at 11 a.m. Thursday at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.
“What a moment,” said Whitney Bernard, who is in her 18th season as the Lady Raiders head coach. “I’m still in shock. This is such a surreal feeling, and we are just soaking it in. Getting to a state championship game means so much to this program. To the current players, to the players before them that help build this. I don’t have enough words to describe what a proud moment this is.”
Wimberly earned a 4-0 shutout of El Campo in the other state semifinal.
Randall (22-5-1) won this game against Aubrey on the backbone of what’s worked throughout the postseason and that’s their defense. The Lady Raiders pitched a second straight shutout after holding Godley scoreless in the regional championship. In fact, the Lady Raiders defense hasn’t allowed a goal in the last 239 minutes. The Randall defense frustrated Aubrey’s University of Baylor commit, Brynnlee Bohannon, and Lady Raider goalie Jani Contreras was exceptional in the net making eight saves.
“The defense has stepped up throughout the playoffs and they did it again against Aubrey,” Bernard said. “They are in the right spots; they fluster the offense, and they are very coachable. Everyone did their job.”
The lone goal came by way of Bernard’s daughter, Kyndal McClain on a free kick in the 45th minute. McClain used her opportunity to curl her kick in to the back right of the goal sneaking it right past the Aubrey goalie.
“That was huge for us to get that score,” Bernard said. “It gave the defense the lead they needed. We played Randall soccer when we needed to and we were in control the entire way. We’re just ready to get down to state and win one more.”
