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Texas high school soccer team forfeits state championship

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•04/17/25•

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Highland Park forfeits Texas high school soccer state championship
Dallas Highland Park players celebrate their win over Liberty Hill at the UIL Soccer State Championships at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown on April 11, 2025. Highland Park was later forced to forfeit, making Liberty Hill the champions. (© Jay Janner/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

The Highland Park Scots forfeited their 2025 Texas High School Soccer Class 5A Division II state championship. An April 11 press release by the University Interscholastic League reads:

“The University Interscholastic League received a report from Dallas Highland Park High School regarding its use of an ineligible player in the boys’ conference 5A Division II state championship soccer game on Friday, April 11th. Highland Park staff discovered the ineligible player following the conclusion of the state championship game, and after an investigation by Highland Park administration, the ineligibility was confirmed.”

Highland Park defeated the Liberty Hill Panthers in the championship game 2-0. Midfielders Jack O’Grady and Hafeey Shah scored first-half goals, while goalkeeper Justin Ratner made five saves. The Scots wouldn’t reach the title game without playoff victories against Frisco Memorial, Lucas Lovejoy, West Mesquite, Mesquite Poteet, and Saginaw.

Had the victory stayed, the Scots would have finished the season with a 21-1-2 record. Highland Park had 15 shutout victories, including an 8-0 domination against The Colony Cougars. Instead, the Scots fell to 20-2-2, still enough for their second consecutive 20-win season.

While the UIL did not detail how the player in question became ineligible, Texas High School Soccer’s governing body added in their statement:

“Consistent with the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules, which states the minimum penalty for allowing an ineligible player to participate is forfeiture of the contest in which they participated, Highland Park has forfeited the state championship game. As a result, Highland Park’s state championship opponent Liberty Hill will be the boys’ conference 5A Division II state soccer champions.”

Hence, the Panthers claim the state title via a 1-0 official score. Their record improves to 16-7-7 and closed the season with ten consecutive victories.

Meanwhile, despite the unfortunate outcome, a statement from the Highland Park Independent School District reads:

“We would like to recognize the Highland Park boys soccer team for their hard work, dedication, and the way they represented our school throughout the season.”