PLANO:  The Varsity Girls Soccer team played host to Prestonwood on Friday afternoon in a bitter and blustery TAPPS Area Playoff.  Despite being separated by just seven miles, the two Plano TAPPS member schools have not played in the same district since 2018-2019.  Regardless, the Lions and Lady Cards try to find time each season to work in a game together.  This year was no different, as JPII and PCA battled to a 1-1 tie back on December 9th, snapping a seven-game win streak for John Paul II dating back to 2017.   

Despite the Lions handing them one of three ties this season, the Lady Cardinals entered Friday's playoff opener a much different team than the one they trotted out on the pitch back before the holidays.  The stark contrast between the two sides was evident from the opening whistle.  John Paul II played as if it had magnets in its boots, controlling possession with ease and pushing the ball up and down the pitch at will.   The Lady Cards managed to put double-digit shot attempts on goal within the first thirty minutes, but credit to the Lions' keeper who made save after save.  

After a frustrating first half hour, JPII finally broke through.  It was as if Moses himself parted the PCA back line, and the Lady Cardinals took full advantage, scoring three times in the next ten minutes.  Junior forward Lillian Penrod got the party started for John Paul II in the 32', taking an assist from Maggie SymSmith.  The senior captain headed a goal kick back towards the Lions' net in the direction of Penrod, who took a touch, swam by a defender, and looped a perfectly powered drop shot over the keeper's head from 25 yards out.  

Ahead 1-0 after having finally broken down the Prestonwood defense, it all seemed to click for the Lady Cards.  Four minutes later, in a brilliant solo display of skill, sophomore midfielder Ally Tucci picked off another Lions' goal kick, and with the netminder out of position, rifled a shot into the upper left 90 for the 2-0 lead.  Not satisfied with a two-goal advantage, JPII added one more score in the 39th minute.  Serving up a corner kick with 1:20 left on the clock, Ally Tucci delivered a beautifully arcing cross that sailed just over the outstretched arms of the Prestonwood goalie and was hammered home by the head of her sister Gabby Tucci.  

The second half was very much a mirror of the first.  John Paul II created plenty of chances in the early going but nothing threatening until the 58th minute.  Penrod picked off a PCA throw-in near midfield and proceeded to turn on the jets with a 50-yard run, punctuated by a close-range finish that left her sprawled on the turf, grinning ear-to-ear.  The Lady Cards added one more in the late stages, as Maggie SymSmith, ever the play-creator, turned playmaker.  A corner kick from Ally Tucci in the 77' inexplicably wormed its way through six different white and red jerseys, only to wind up right on the boot of SymSmith, who caught it just as it hit the ground and flicked it into the nylon for the 5-0 advantage.  With the win, junior keeper Mallory Murphy tallies her fourth clean sheet of the season as the Lady Cards' back line is peaking at the right time.  

JPII now improves to 9-4-3 on the year and advances to the TAPPS Regionals, where they'll meet a familiar foe.  Awaiting the Lady Cardinals is Nolan Catholic, who defeated the John Paul II in the season opener 0-3 back on November 11th.  Much has changed since then, although these two teams have established a recent history of thrilling postseason finishes.  JPII handed Nolan a 2-1 extra-time loss in the Area round back in 2019, but the Vikings returned the favor the following year with a 1-0 shutout in the Regionals.  Last season, Penrod and SymSmith provided the goals necessary to defeat Nolan Catholic once more in the Regionals, a 2-1 win.  A fourth playoff showdown in four years is set for this Wednesday, March 2nd at Grapevine Faith Christian School, kick-off set for 6pm.